MOLECULAR PROBES: PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE AZO COMPOUNDS

Abstract— The azo group may be used as a probe to gain information about the molecular surroundings. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of two azo steroids have been investigated in media of different viscosity and polarity. The CD spectra of the trans -compounds are only slightly affected by the environment while those of the cis -compounds are strongly dependent on the environment. Photoisomerization is analysed by absorption and ellipticity diagrams as tests for chromophoric and conformeric uniformity. Our results support an inversion mechanism of the photoisomerization of azo compounds.