STUDIES ON FLAVINS IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS — III. SPECTRAL BEHAVIOUR OF LUMIFLAVIN

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of lumiflavin have been studied in nonaqueous solvents of different polarity. The corrected emission spectra show apparent mirror symmetry to the longest wavelength absorption maximum. In view of high molar extinction coefficient of the longest wavelength maximum in absorption spectra, constant polarization of fluorescence across it in dioxane and high values of quantum yields of Buorescence, τ→τ* character of corresponding electronic transition was proposed. Roughly linear correlation was found between transition energies and quantum yields of fluorescence on the one hand, and polarity of solvents expressed in Kosower's 'Z' values (excepting acetic acid) on the other.
In preliminary experiments it was found that lumiflavin in dioxane and in acetic acid is strongly photodecomposed by the monochromatic(436 nm) light.