CIS-TRANS PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF 4-(2-(9-ANTHRYL)VINYL)PYRIDINE; AN AZA ANALOGUE OF 1-(9-ANTHRYL)-2-PHENYLETHYLENE

The quantum yields of fluorescence ($\Phi$$_f$) and trans $\to$ cis photoisomerization ($\Phi$$_{t$\to$ c}$), trans-4-(2-(9-anthryl)vinyl)pyridine, an aza analogue of 1-(9-anthryl)-2-phenylethylene, were measured in several solvents at room temperature. $\Phi$$_f$ and $\Phi$$_{t$\to$ c}$ are 0.38 and < 0.01 in hexane and 0.02 and 0.38 in acetonitrile, respectively. As solvent polarity decreases, $\Phi$$_{t$\to$ c}$ strongly reduced, whereas $\Phi$$_f$ strongly increased. A singlet mechanism of trans $\to$ cis photoisomerization is suggested since $\Phi$$_{t$\to$ c}$ and $\Phi$$_f$ change in opposite direction.