title: Activated decay pathways for planar vs twisted singlet phenylalkenes.
abstract: The ground state conformation, spectroscopy, and photochemical behavior of styrene and eight of its vinyl- and ring-methylated derivatives have been investigated. Introduction of methyl groups at the alpha-position of the vinyl group or the ortho positions of the phenyl results in increased phenyl-vinyl dihedral angles. Styrenes possessing both alpha-methyl and ortho-methyl groups adopt orthogonal geometries. Decreased planarity results in a progressive blue-shift in the lowest energy allowed pi,pi transition and a decrease in the singlet lifetime. Kinetic modeling of the temperature-dependent singlet lifetimes provides activation parameters for the activated decay pathway, which is assigned to C=C torsion for styrenes with phenyl-vinyl dihedral angles, phi, < 60 degrees. Planar styrenes have large torsional barriers (7 +/- 1 kcal/mol) and decay predominantly via intersystem crossing and fluorescence at room temperature. Styrenes with values of 30 degrees < phi < 60 degrees have smaller torsional barriers and decay predominantly via C=C torsion at room temperature. Highly nonplanar styrenes decay predominantly via relatively rapid, weakly activated intersystem crossing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, USA. lewis@chem.northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Frederick D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zuo