A photophysical study of purines and theophylline by using laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy

The photophysics of purinic compounds (purine, 6-methylpurine, 6-aminopurine [adenine], 6-chloropurine, 6-methoxypurine) and theophylline in acetonitrile solution were studied by pulsed laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy (LIOAS) exciting at 266 nm. The effect of O2, Xe and MnCl2 on the photophysical behavior of these compounds was studied; as well, the formation quantum yield of purine and 6-methylpurine triplet states were determined, with phi T = 0.88 +/- 0.03 for both compounds. Multiphotonic and depletion processes were observed at high laser fluences. In order to explain this behavior, theoretical UV-visible absorption electronic spectra from both the S0 and S1 state have been calculated for purines and theophylline by using the semiempirical PM3 and ZINDO/S methods.