title: The fluorescence quantum yield of vitamin A2.
abstract: The fluorescence quantum yield of all-trans 3,4-didehydroretinol (vitamin A2) was measured in hexane at room temperature, using quinine sulfate as a standard. Unlike all-trans retinol (vitamin A1) which possessed a relative quantum yield of 0.0298, 3,4-didehydroretinol was 37 times lower in fluorescence (i.e. 0.0008). In addition, a significant bathochromic shift (both excitation and emission maxima) and a general broadening of the fluorescence spectra were noted for 3,4-didehydroretinol. This information is important not only for the understanding of the basic structure of vitamin A but also the photochemistry of vision.
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences and Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Texas, San Antonio 78285.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tsin
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pedrozo-Fernandez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gallas
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: C024366:vitamin A2; D014801:Vitamin A