Spectral and kinetic parameters of transient species in the photolysis of naphthylmethylideneiminospironaphthopyran by excitation at different wavelengths: Nano- and femtosecond laser photolysis

Intramolecular processes occurring in a photobifunctional compound (PBC) comprising the spironaphthopyran and hydroxyazomethine moieties have been studied in methanol solutions by femtosecond laser photolysis using light with wavelengths of 340 and 490 nm. At the excitation wavelength of 490 nm, the cis-trans photoisomerization in the azomethine moiety occurs in the S₁ state. In the case of PBC photolysis with 340-nm light, the opening of the spiro bond of the spiropyran moiety (formation of the X form) also takes place during relaxation of the S_n state to the S₁ state followed by isomerization to the merocyanine form. The spectral and kinetic characteristics of different electronically excited have been were determined. The data have been compared with those of nanosecond laser photolysis.