Abstract
The photochemistry of benzene in water, by excitation at 2288, 2537, and 2652 Å into different vibrational levels of the first excited singlet state (1B2u), gives in the presence of O2 at neutral pH only one major stable product. The kinetics and mechanism of its formation was investigated using continuous illumination and also flash photolysis techniques. The quantum yield of the product is steady with increasing quantum energy; the fluorescence yield decreases. A mechanism is proposed which involves formation of a labile energetic isomer of the ground state singlet from a nonstationary energy-rich state of the excited singlet before the fluorescent level is reached, and in competition with intersystem crossing. This labile isomer adds O2. The primary photooxide rearranges to give the final product.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 165-171 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Physical Chemistry |
Volume | 76 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1972 |