Mechanistic studies of the photorearrangement of o-nitrobenzyl esters

α-Methyl-o-nitrobenzyl isobutyrate and copolymers containing α-methyl-o-nitrobenzyl acrylate were irradiated in dilute solution with 20 ns flashes of 347 nm light or with 60 ps flashes of 355 nm light. The formation of the absorption spectrum of a nitronic acid with τ = 5 ns was observed in each case. A transient absorption spectrum similar to that of the nitronic acid was formed with τ ⩽ 0.5 ns. This spectrum is assumed to belong either to the triplet biradical formed upon intramolecular triplet state hydrogen abstraction or to nitronic acid formed very rapidly by intramolecular singlet state hydrogen abstraction, the latter mechanism being operative in parallel with the triplet mechanism.In 60vol.%EtOH-40vol.%H₂O the nitronate anion was formed by dissociation of the nitronic acid with τ = 3 μs as indicated by a build-up of a new absorption band with λ_max = 420 nm and by an increase in electrical conductivity. The conversion into the end products (nitroso compound and carboxylic acid) occurred at a much faster rate from the nitronic acid than from the nitronate anion: τ = 80 μs (CH₂Cl₂), τ = 360 μs (60vol.%EtOH-40.vol.%H₂O, 10⁻⁴ M H₂SO₄) and τ = 10 ms (60vol.%EtOH-40vol.%H₂O, no H₂SO₄). Conversion of the nitronate anion into another transient was inferred from the partial decrease in the electrical conductivity (τ ≈ 15 μs).Irradiation of the copolymers gave the same results as for the low molecular weight model compound, indicating that there is no polymer effect with respect to the kinetics or the mechanism of the photorearrangement. This conclusion was substantiated by the quantum yields for acid formation (0.24 – 0.25) measured with both the model compound and the copolymers.     

Photochemistry and photopolymerization activity of novel perester derivatives of fluorenone: a conventional and laser flash photolysis study

The photochemistry of three novel t-butylperester derivatives of fluorenone was examined and compared with unsubstituted fluorenone and a mono-t-butylperester of benzophenone using both conventional microsecond and nanosecond laser flash photolysis. On conventional microsecond flash photolysis in 2-propanol, all four fluorenone compounds gave transient absorption in the region 300–400 nm due to a ketyl radical formed from the abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the solvent by the upper excited triplet n—π* state of the fluorenone chromophore. This assignment was confirmed by a pH-dependent study on the transient absorption spectra. The nitro-t-butylperester derivative of fluorenone gave additional absorption above 400 nm due to species associated with the nitro group. No evidence for benzoyloxy radical formation could be found in non-hydrogen-atom-donating solvents with microsecond flash photolysis which is associated with homolysis of the perester groups. On nanosecond laser flash photolysis of the fluorenone compounds at 355 nm excitation in acetonitrile and hexa-fluorobenzene, transient absorptions were observed in the region 320–640 nm due to the corresponding triplet states. All the t-butylperester derivatives showed residual absorbances at longer time delays which were tentatively assigned to the corresponding benzoyloxy radicals produced by homolysis of the perester groups. In contrast, the mono-t-butylperester of benzophenone, included for comparison only, showed very weak transient absorption in the region 320–640 nm compared with that of the strong triplet of benzophenone under the same excitation conditions. The triplet absorptions and lifetimes of the fluorenone compounds were correlated with their photopolymerization activities in bulk methylmethacrylate monomer. In oxygenated solutions, the triplet absorptions of fluorenone and benzophenone were effectively quenched; however, long-lived transient growths were observed for all the t-butylperester derivatives. The intensities of these novel transient absorptions appear to correlate with the total number of t-butylperester groups in the fluorenone molecule and tentative assignments are discussed.     

The reactive state in the photo-rearrangement of o-nitrobenzaldehyde

The primayy step of the o-nitrobenzaldehyde-o-nitrosobenzoic acid photorearrangement in solution has been studied by flash absorption with 35 ps 355 nm light pulses. Flash photolysis of o-nitrobenzaldehyde in acetonitrile or THF solutions produces a transient absorption with a maximum at ca. 440 nm. Formation of the transient was < 35 ps, the laser pulse width, and within experimental error, no furthrr buildup was observed. The transient which decayed at nanosccond times is attributed to a remarkably reactive ketene intermediate formed by H abstraction of the aldehydic hydrogen by the excited state of the nitro group. Decay of the ketene was more rapid in water-acetonitrile, methanol-acetonitrile, tert-butyl alcohol and in THF than in acetonitrile solution. It is suggested that the intramolecular reaction of the ketene intermediate is enhanced in THF relative to acetonitrile because of the ability of THF to faciliaate proton transfer associated with the reaction. The addition of the triplet quencher cis-piperylene to a solution of o-nitrobenzaldehyde in THF did not accelerate decay of the transient nor reduce its yield. The n,π* triplet excited state band observed in the 625–650 nm region for a number of the nitroaromatic compounds was not observed in the case of o-nitrobenzaldehyde. The results provide evidence that in the direct irradiation on o-nitrobenzaldehyde in THF or acetonitrile solutions, the intramolecular reaction occurs from the singlet rather than the triplet excited state.     

Photochemical Hydrogen Abstraction and Electron Transfer Reactions of Tetrachlorobenzoquinone with Pyrimidine Nucleobases

Pentachlorophenol, a widespread environmental pollutant that is possibly carcinogenic to humans, is metabolically oxidized to tetrachloroquinone (TCBQ) which can result in DNA damage. We have investigated the photochemical reaction dynamics of TCBQ with two pyrimidine type nucleobases (thymine and uracil) upon UVA (355 nm) excitation using the technique of nanosecond time-resolved laser flash photolysis. It has been found that 355 nm excitation populates TCBQ molecules to their triplet state ³TCBQ^*, which are highly reactive towards thymine or uracil and undergo two parallel reactions, the hydrogen abstraction and electron transfer, leading to the observed photoproducts of TCBQH· and TCBQ·^- in transient absorption spectra. The concomitantly produced nucleobase radicals and radical cations are expected to induce a series of oxidative or strand cleavage damage to DNA afterwards. By characterizing the photochemical hydrogen abstraction and electron transfer reactions, our results provide potentially important molecular reaction mechanisms for understanding the carcinogenic effects of pentachlorophenol and its metabolites TCBQ.     

Photochemistry of dicyanopyridines

The photochemistry of a variety of dicyanopyridines (2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4- and 3,5-dicyanopyridine) in solution at room temperature was investigated. Pulsed UV (308 nm) laser irradiation in deoxygenated acetonitrile yields the triplet state with lifetimes between 4 and 10 μs and absorption bands in the 400 and 320 nm regions. In the presence of added HCl an air-insensitive transient (τ ≈ 10–12 μs, λ_max ≈ 360–380 nm) was observed, suggesting the formation of a protonated excited state.

Irradiation in the presence of amines resulted in the production of the pyridyl radical anion (τ ≈ 40–80 μs, air sensitive, λ_max ≈ 360–380 nm) formed by electron transfer from the amine to the pyridine triplet excited state. Stern-Volmer analysis gave electron transfer rate constants in the range (1–8) × 10⁻⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹.

In methanol solvent, irradiation yielded an air-insensitive transient assigned as the neutral pyridyl radical (τ ≈ 30–200 μs, λ_max ≈ 370–385 nm). The formation of these transients is discussed in the context of previous photochemical electron spin resonance and product studies.     

Photoreaction of 2-halo-N-pyridinylbenzamide: intramolecular cyclization mechanism of phenyl radical assisted with n-complexation of chlorine radical

The photochemical behavior of 2-halo-N-pyridinylbenzamide (1-4 in Chart 1) was studied. The photoreaction of 2-chloro-N-pyridinylbenzamides 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4 afforded photocyclized products, benzo[c]naphthyridinones (6-9 and 16), in high yield, whereas the bromo analogues 1b, 2b, and 3b produced extensively photoreduced products, N-pyridinylbenzamides (1c, 10, and 11), with minor photocyclized product. Since the photocyclization reaction of 2-chloro-N-pyridinylbenzamide is retarded by the presence of oxygen and sensitized by the presence of a triplet sensitizer, acetone or acetophenone, a triplet state of the chloro analogue is involved in the reaction. Since several radical intermediates, particularly n-complexes of chlorine radical, are identified in the laser flash photolysis of 2-chloro-N-pyridinylbenzamide, an intramolecular cyclization mechanism of phenyl radical assisted with n-complexation of chlorine radical for the cyclization reaction is proposed: the triplet state (78 kcal/mol) of the chloro analogue (1a), which is populated by the excitation of 1a undergoes a homolytic cleavage of the C-Cl bond to give phenyl and chlorine radicals; while chlorine radical holds the neighbor pyridinyl ring with its n-complexation, the intramolecular arylation of the phenyl radical with the pyridinyl ring proceeds to produce a conjugated 2,3-dihydropyridinyl radical and then the conjugated radical aromatizes to afford a cyclized product, benzo[c]naphthyridinone by ejecting a hydrogen. The photoreduction product can be formed by hydrogen atom abstraction of the phenyl sigma radical from the environment.     

Photochemistry in solution-XX : Triplet reactivity of aliphatic aldehydes

The triplet self-quenching process of three aliphatic aldehydes has been investigated by inhibition with dienes (taking into account the singlet interaction with the dienes) and by laser flash photolysis. The results obtained for intersystem crossing, the setf-quenching process and product formation have been rationalized. The main reactivity observed for the three aldehydes is the self-quenching process which occurs from both the singlet and triplet state. The laser flash photolysis experiments carried out with butanal show two absorptions of a transient at 320 aod 355 nm; no evidence for two different species could be put forward. The similar decay of the two absorption maximas of the transient, as the concentration of aldehyde is increased, would be indicative of only one single absorbing species which could be either the triplet state of the aldehyde or a radical-pair formed by the self-quenching process or the 1,4-biradical resulting from γ-H abstraction. The fact that both the quenching experiments (by dienes or by 1-methylnaphthalene) and the laser flash measurements lead to about the same lifetime also indicates only one species.The products formed from the triplet setf-quenching process have also been obtained by a different method: excitation of benzophenone at 365 nm in the presence of butanal. The quantum yields for product formation is about the same as those obtained for the triplet by direct irradiation of butanal, except that of octane-4,5-dione which is increased if the photoreaction is carried out at 365 nm in the presence of beazophenone.     

Photochemical studies of 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BM-DBM).

Kinetic UV-VIS absorption data following 355 and 266 nm nanosecond laser flash photolysis of 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BM-DBM) solutions is presented. The kinetics of the decay of the non-chelated enol (NCE) produced following 355 nm excitation of BM-DBM solutions are analysed in terms of mixed 1st- and 2nd-order kinetics. The temperature dependences of the component rate constants are unusual and both 1st- and 2nd-order components display negative activation energies, which are explained by invoking pre-equilibria. In addition, it is shown for the first time that 266 nm laser photolysis of BM-DBM solutions leads to formation of the triplet state of the keto (K) form with a lifetime of approximately 500 ns. Under these conditions the triplet state of the K form is quenched by oxygen.     

Triplet excited states of nitronaphthalenes. III. 1,4-dinitronaphthalene

Nanosecond flash photolysis of 1,4-dinitronaphthalene (1,4-DNO₂N) in aerated and deaerated solvents shows a transient species with absorption maximum at 545 nm. The maximum of the transient absorption is independent of solvent polarity and its lifetime seems to be a function of the hydrogen donor efficiency of the solvent. The transient absorption is attributed to the lowest excited triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N. The reactivity of this state for hydrogen abstraction from tributyl tin hydride (Bu₃SnH), K_q = 3.8 × 10⁸M^?1 sec, is almost equal to that of nitrobezene triplet state which has been characterized as an n → π* state. Based on spectroscopic and kinetic evidence obtained in the present work, the triplet state of 1,4-DNO₂N behaves as an n → π* state in nonpolar solvents, while in polar solvents the state is predominantly n → π* with a small amount of intramolecular charge transfer character.     

Photochromic dibenzobarrlenes: long-lived triplet biradical intermediates

Upon exposure to UV light, the disubstituted dibenzobarrelene derivative 1a turns green in the solid phase and reverts back to its original pale-yellow color within several hours in the dark. The lifetime of the colored species in degassed benzene at room temperature is 37 +/- 2 s (Ea for decoloration is 14.5 +/- 0.7 kcal mol-1 and log A is 8.92 +/- 0.5 s-1) and highly sensitive to molecular oxygen; the Stern-Volmer quenching constant is 6.9 +/- 0.2 x 108 M-1 s-1. Similarly, the disubstituted dibenzobarrelenes 1b and 1c exhibited pink coloration when exposed to UV light in the solid phase. On the basis of combined experimental and theoretical evidence, it is proposed that upon photoexcitation the excited singlet state of 1a undergoes rapid intersystem crossing to its triplet state, followed by intramolecular delta-H abstraction, to yield the triplet biradical intermediate (3)2. Upon prolonged irradiation, 2 undergoes cyclization to the alcohol 3, which affords the enone 4 as the final photoproduct. The delta-H abstraction on the triplet-state potential energy surface, calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of density functional theory (DFT), has an activation energy of 18.5 kcal/mol. Further, the absorption spectrum of the triplet biradical (3)2, obtained from time-dependent DFT calculations, displays an intense absorption maximum at 670 nm, which is in good agreement with the observed absorption peak at 700 nm. The molecular-orbital analysis of the triplet diradical (3)2 suggests that its long-wavelength absorption involves the transition of the unpaired electron from the comparatively localized benzyl-type HOMO to the extensively conjugated benzoyl-type LUMO. The present experimental and theoretical results strongly support the intervention of a long-lived triplet biradical (3)2 in the photochromism of appropriately substituted dibenzobarrelenes.     

Structural relaxation in the 1,2,6-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4-pyridone triplet

On 308 nm or 337.1 nm laser pulse excitation, 1,2,6-trimethyl-3,5-diphenyl-4-pyridone (2) forms triplets (λ_max ^T = 330 – 335 nm) characterized by short lifetimes (2 – 3 μs) in fluid solutions at room temperature. The triplet yields (0.07 – 0.5) decrease on going from non-polar solvents to polar/hydrogen-bonding solvents. The triplet exhibits a reluctant quenching behavior toward quenchers with triplet energies in the range 40 – 66 kcal mol⁻¹, although the spectroscopic triplet energy of 2 is estimated to be 74 kcal mol⁻¹ (from phosphorescence spectra in low temperature glasses). This inefficient energy transfer quenching is explained in terms of extensive relaxation in the triplet state of 2 in fluid solutions, most probably in the form of twisting about the double bonds of the heterocyclic ring (thereby relieving the steric strain). The triplets of 2 and its oxygen analogue (1) are shown to be efficient donors of electrons and energy in their interactions with paraquat and oxygen respectively.     

Excited state behaviour of pentahelicene dinitriles

The excited singlet and triplet states 2,13-dicyano[5]helicene (1) and two para-dicyno[5]helicenes containing one and two methyl groups (2 and 3, respectively) were studied in solvents of different polarity as a function of temperature. Fluorescence quenching by electron donors such as triethyl amine indicated photoinduced electron transfer. In the absence of additives triplet states were observed by flash photolysis. The triplet lifetime at room temperature was rather short (<1 μs) and the decay limited by intramolecular processes, e.g. charge transfer in the cases of 2 or 3. Luminescence of singlet molecular oxygen, O₂(¹Δ_g), was observed with moderate and low quantum yield for 1 and 3, respectively. For 1–3, the triplet lifetime increases by six orders of magnitude on going to −196°C. Two subsequently formed triplet states were observed for 3 at lower temperatures. The effects of temperature and solvent polarity on the quantum yields of fluorescence and phosphorescence and the spectroscopic and kinetic triplet absorption properties were examined. The influence of substituents on the deactivation pathways of excited pentahelicenes are discussed.     

Addition of a Reformatsky reagent to N-anthracene-9-sulfonyl and related imines: Synthesis of protected β-amino acids

The Reformatsky reagent tert-butoxycarbonylmethylzinc bromide adds in high yields to N-sulfonylimines, e.g. 1a–1d, derived by condensation of benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal with methanesulfonamide, toluene-4-sulfonamide, 4-(methoxycarbonyl)benzenesulfonamide and sulfamide: the products are protected β-amino acids 2a–2d. N-Deprotection occurs reductively (Na-naphthalene; low yields) for 2b and 2c or hydrolytically (refluxing aq. pyridine; 76% yield of amino acid 3a after acid hydrolysis of the t-butyl ester) for the sulfamide derivatives 2d. Anthracene-9-sulfonamide (6) is readily available by sulfonation and chlorination of anthracene, and condenses with aldehydes [RCHO; R = Ph, 4-FC₆H₄, 4-MeOC₆H₄, 4-NCC₆H₄, 2-furyl, (E)-styryl], e.g. in the presence of TiCl₄/Et₃N, to yield imines 7a–7f, which after addition of tert-butoxycarbonylmethylzinc bromide give protected amino acids 8a–8f; however, 8f cyclizes to the sultam 9 via a spontaneous intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. Reductive cleavage of the N-anthracene-9-sulfonyl group is much easier than for traditional N-sulfonyl protecting groups, as demonstrated by the deprotection of 8a and 8c using aluminium amalgam.     

Photolysis of benzoyl esters of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylcarbinols in neutral and basic media

The photolysis of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethylbenzoates (1a–1d) in 2-propanol gives dibenzo-[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-one-oxides (5a–5d) as the major product. Dibenzo[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-ones (2a–2d), 2,2′-dinitrobenzophenones (3a–3d), 2-amino-2′-nitrobenzophenones (4a–4d) and N-hydroxyacridones (6a–6d) are also formed in the reaction. When the irradiation is carried out in benzene, 3-(2′-nitrophenyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles (7a–7d) are also obtained together with the above products.     

Single molecule spectroscopy. Perylene in the Shpol''skii matrix n-nonane

Single perylene molecules in the Shpol'skii matrix n-nonane have been investigated at 1.7 K using a frequency-doubled cw Ti: sapphire laser as an excitation source. Fluorescence excitation spectra within the inhomogeneously broadened 0-0 absorption band around 443.8 nm were taken. The combination of high fluorescence quatumm yield and low intersystem crossing rate with a relatively short-lived triplet state allowed the direct observation of fluorescence photon bunches. The time distribution of the resulting emission gaps for the specific single molecule studied in detail leads to a triplet lifetime of τ_p = 1.1 ± 0.5 ms.     

A combined laser flash photolysis,density functional theory and atoms in molecules study of the photochemical hydrogen abstraction by pyrene-4,5-dione

The photochemical hydrogen abstraction reaction of pyrene-4,5-dione (3) has been investigated by laser flash photolysis. Excitation (λ = 355 nm) of a degassed solution of 3 in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of a detectable transient with absorption maxima at 380 and 470 nm. This transient decays with a lifetime of around 4.8 μs and is quenched by oxygen. This transient is most probably a triplet state of 3. Addition of hydrogen donors, such as 2-propanol; 1,4-cyclohexadiene or 4-methoxyphenol led to the formation of a new transient with λ_max at 380, 500 nm and a broad absorption at 640 nm. This new transient slowly decays with second order kinetics and was assigned to the semiquinone radical obtained from the hydrogen abstraction reaction. Using DFT and AIM calculations the reactivity of 3 and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (1) is best interpreted as a proton coupled electron transfer like mechanism for the hydrogen abstraction from 2-propanol.     

Triplet excited-state characterization and determination of the photoionization mechanism of the antitumoral drug pazelliptine

The triplet properties of the excited triplet state of pazelliptine (PZE), an antitumoral drug derived from ellipticine, were investigated in dioxane, ethanol and buffer aqueous solutions using the laser flash photolysis technique. The triplet absorption spectra and the kinetic parameters associated with the excited state decay were quite similar in the different solvents. ³PZE reacted with unexcited PZE in deaerated solutions (k = 6 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and was quenched by oxygen (k ≈ 2 × 10⁷ s⁻¹). The extinction coefficients of the triplet transition were estimated and used to calculate the singlet-triplet intersystem crossing quantum yields of about 5%.

A biphotonic ionization of PZE in buffer aqueous solution has been demonstrated in a previous work. This process was also observed in ethanol but not in dioxane. Mixed yttrium aluminum garnet laser harmonics (355 nm + 532 nm) and delayed-pulse experiments were carried out in order to determine the intermediate excited state involved in this photoionization process. The results indicate that pazelliptine radical cation and e⁻_s are formed via a consecutive two-photon absoprtion in which the first excited singlet state is the only intermediate.     

Triplet formation of 4-thiothymidine and its photosensitization to oxygen studied by time-resolved thermal lensing technique

Excited-state dynamics of 4-thiothymidine (S4-TdR) and its photosensitization to molecular oxygen in solution with UVA irradiation were investigated. Absorption and emission spectra measurements revealed that UVA photolysis of S4-TdR gives rise to a population of T1(pipi*), following S2(pipi*) --> S1(npi*) internal conversion. In transient absorption measurement, the 355 nm laser photolysis gave broad absorption (380-600 nm) bands of triplet S4-TdR. The time-resolved thermal lensing (TRTL) signal of S4-TdR containing the thermal component due to decay of triplet S4-TdR was clearly observed by the 355 nm laser excitation. The quantum yield for S1 --> T1 intersystem crossing was estimated to be unity by a triplet quenching experiment with potassium iodide. In the presence of molecular oxygen, the photosensitization from triplet S4-TdR gave rise to singlet oxygen O2 (1Deltag) with a quantum yield of 0.50. Therapeutic implications of such singlet oxygen formation are discussed.     

Broadband Visible‐Light‐Harvesting trans‐Bis(alkylphosphine) Platinum(II)‐Alkynyl Complexes with Singlet Energy Transfer between BODIPY and Naphthalene Diimide Ligands

A heteroleptic bis(tributylphosphine) platinum(II)‐alkynyl complex ( Pt‐1 ) showing broadband visible‐light absorption was prepared. Two different visible‐light‐absorbing ligands, that is, ethynylated boron‐dipyrromethene (BODIPY) and a functionalized naphthalene diimide (NDI) were used in the molecule. Two reference complexes, Pt‐2 and Pt‐3 , which contain only the NDI or BODIPY ligand, respectively, were also prepared. The coordinated BODIPY ligand shows absorption at 503 nm and fluorescence at 516 nm, whereas the coordinated NDI ligand absorbs at 594 nm; the spectral overlap between the two ligands ensures intramolecular resonance energy transfer in Pt‐1 , with BODIPY as the singlet energy donor and NDI as the energy acceptor. The complex shows strong absorption in the region 450 nm–640 nm, with molar absorption coefficient up to 88 000 M ^?1 cm^?1. Long‐lived triplet excited states lifetimes were observed for Pt‐1 – Pt‐3 (36.9 μs, 28.3 μs, and 818.6 μs, respectively). Singlet and triplet energy transfer processes were studied by the fluorescence/phosphorescence excitation spectra, steady‐state and time‐resolved UV/Vis absorption and luminescence spectra, as well as nanosecond time‐resolved transient difference absorption spectra. A triplet‐state equilibrium was observed for Pt‐1 . The complexes were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion, with upconversion quantum yields up to 18.4 % being observed for Pt‐1 .     

Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of the lowest triplet state of thymine and thymidine

Vibrational spectra of the lowest energy triplet states of thymine and its 2′-deoxyribonucleoside, thymidine, are reported for the first time. Time-resolved infrared (TRIR) difference spectra were recorded over seven decades of time from 300 fs to 3 μs using femtosecond and nanosecond pump-probe techniques. The carbonyl stretch bands in the triplet state are seen at 1603 and 1700 cm⁻¹ in room-temperature acetonitrile-d₃ solution. These bands and additional ones observed between 1300 and 1450 cm⁻¹ are quenched by dissolved oxygen on a nanosecond time scale. Density-functional calculations accurately predict the difference spectrum between triplet and singlet IR absorption cross sections, confirming the peak assignments and elucidating the nature of the vibrational modes. In the triplet state, the C4O carbonyl exhibits substantial single-bond character, explaining the large (70 cm⁻¹) red shift in this vibration, relative to the singlet ground state. Femtosecond TRIR measurements unambiguously demonstrate that the triplet state is fully formed within the first 10 ps after excitation, ruling out a relaxed ¹nπ^* state as the triplet precursor.