Functional monomers and polymers. CVIII. Photodimerization of pendant thymine bases in thymine containing poly-lysine derivatives

The photodimerization reaction of pendant thymine bases in thymine-containing poly-lysine derivatives was studied over a wide range in aqueous solution. It was found that the quantum yield of the photodimerization of pendant thymine bases is affected mainly by the conformation of the polymers in solution. The differences in photoreaction behavior were discussed for poly-D -, poly-L -, and poly-DL -lysine derivatives.