Abstract

Different functional groups and their positions in the phenyl ring of stilbene and different solvents cause differences in the dipole moment, mass, volume and the surrounding environment of the solute during isomerization. These different properties of solute and solvent effect the isomerization rate in two ways, one is through the internal activation barrier and the other is the friction experienced by the solute while undergoing isomerization. Because the transition state has significant charge transfer character the dielectric coupling of the reaction coordinate with the solvent can modify the internal activation barrier [1]. In the case of alkyl substituted stilbenes in nonpolar solvents such effects are small. Such reasoning is why the system of alkyl-substituted stilbene in n-alkanes has been chosen for our studies addressing the dimensionality of photoisomerization in stilbenes.

© 1990 Optical Society of America