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Updated: May 29, 2026

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch
Published on: February 7, 2022
Ultrafast photochemistry of dithizonatophenylmercury(II)
Heinrich Schwoerer1, Karel G von Eschwege, Gurthwin Bosman
1Laser Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa. heso@sun.ac.za
Abstract:
The initial photochromic reaction of dithizonatophenylmercury(II) in solution was investigated by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Ultrafast excitation within less than 100 fs caused a radiationless photoreaction with a time constant of 1.5 ps, which is interpreted as C=N isomerization through a conical intersection. The orthogonally twisted intermediate state was observed through its excited-state absorption. Bifurcation along pathways towards the ground states of the orange cis and blue trans configurations occurs below the funnel of the conical intersection. The photochromism of the title compound in a very polar solvent such as methanol is observed for the first time.
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