VISUAL PIGMENTS—10. SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOPHYSICAL DYNAMICS OF RETINOL AND RETINYL ETHER |
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| Authors: | Kohji Chihara Takeshi Takemura Tsuguo Yamaoka N. Yamamoto Arnold Schaffer Ralph S. Becker |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract— The absorption and emission spectra, lifetimes and quantum yields of all-trans retinol have been examined as a function of solvent and temperature. In addition, the spectroscopy of retinyl ether and 2 other polyene alcohols have been determined. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the singlet excited state of retinol and retinyl cther is of a forbidden character and of the type loosely called 1A-g. Retinol forms a dimer in an alkane solvent when cooling from 298 to 77 K. A general structure for the dimer is proposed. |
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