Photochemical reduction of uranyl ion with aromatic alkanes

Uranyl ion is photochemically reduced to uranium(IV) in the presence of diphenylmethane and triphenylmethane. Quantum yields for uranium(IV) formation are accelerated with time suggesting the free radical formation, which triggers off a secondary reaction. Lower quantum yield and higherK _sv value for photochemical reduction of uranyl ion with triphenylmethane relative to the respective values observed with diphenylmethane reveals the competition between photophysical and photochemical deactivation of excited uranyl ion due to the presence of three and two phenyl groups in respective aromatic hydrocarbons for photophysical deactivation.