ON PHOTOREACTIONS OF ANTHRACENE IN SOLID MATRIX—I. PHOTODIMERIZATION

Abstract— The influence of a surrounding transparent matrix on the photochemical behavior of an absorbing solute has been investigated on the particular case of anthracene in KBr , KCl and in HBO₂ and B₂O₃ glasses. In KBr compressed powders, dianthracene formation occurs with a high yield, whereas it is forbidden or negligible for pure crystalline anthracene.
Experiments show that the anthracene molecules are associated in microcrystals and suggest that the dimerization reaction occurs at the interface between KBr and anthracene crystals.
Such an influence of the heterogeneity of the irradiated medium may have implications in photobiology where heterogeneous structures are the general rule.