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Updated: May 20, 2026
High-Resolution Neutron Spectroscopy to Study Picosecond-Nanosecond Dynamics of Proteins and Hydration Water
Published on: April 28, 2022
Ultrafast dynamics of a spiropyran in water
Jörg Kohl-Landgraf1, Markus Braun, Cem Özçoban
1Institute for Physical und Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 7, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Abstract:
The reversible switching of a water-soluble spiropyran compound is recorded over 1 ns by means of femtosecond vis-pump/vis- and IR-probe spectroscopy under aqueous conditions. Our investigations reveal that the photochemical conversion from the closed spiropyran to the open merocyanine takes 1.6 ps whereas the reversed photoreaction is accomplished within 25 ps. The combination of time-resolved and steady-state observations allows us to reveal central parts of the reaction pathway leading to either form. The enhanced water solubility, its fast and efficient switching behavior, and its stability against hydrolysis over a time range of several weeks make this compound an attractive and versatile tool for biological applications.
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