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Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch
Published on: February 7, 2022
Early Relaxation Dynamics in the Photoswitchable Complex trans-[RuCl(NO)(py)4 ]2
Francesco Talotta1,2,3, Martial Boggio-Pasqua2, Leticia González1,4
1lnstitute of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
The design of photoswitchable transition metal complexes with tailored properties is one of the most important challenges in chemistry. Studies explaining the underlying mechanisms are, however, scarce. Herein, the early relaxation dynamics towards NO photoisomerization in trans-[RuCl(NO)(py)4 ]2+ is elucidated by means of non-adiabatic dynamics, which provided time-resolved information and branching ratios. Three deactivation mechanisms (I, II, III) in the ratio 3:2:4 were identified. Pathways I and III involve ultrafast intersystem crossing and internal conversion, whereas pathway II involves only internal conversion.
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