Spin polarization transfer during intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer as studied by time resolved EPR spectroscopy

Spin polarization conservation during intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer was studied for the phthalimide derivatives. It is shown that spin polarization transfer is useful for determining the conformation and the nature of the lowest triple (T₁) states of the donor and acceptor moieties. The polarization pattern of the acceptor triplet state was well reproduced taking into account the polarization of the donor and the mutual orientation of the donor and acceptor moieties. This technique clarified the order of the triplet sublevels in energy of the phthalimide chromophore. The T₁ states of stilbene derivatives, which have a low quantum yield of intersystem crossing under direct excitation, were also detected.