Determination of distance distribution functions by singlet-singlet energy transfer.
The efficiency of energy transfer between two chromophores can be used to define an apparent donor-acceptor distance, which in flexible systems will depend on the R(0) of the chromophores. If efficiency is measured as a function of R(0), it will be possible to determine the actual distribution function of donor-acceptor distances. Numerical procedures are described for extracting this information from experimental data. They should be most useful for distribution functions with mean values from 20-30 A (2-3 nm). This technique should provide considerably more detailed information on end-to-end distributions of oligomers than has hitherto been available. It should also be useful for describing, in detail, conformational flexibility in other large molecules.
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027.
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