Photoexcited states of UV absorbers, benzophenone derivatives.

The UV absorption, phosphorescence and phosphorescence-excitation spectra of benzophenone (BP) derivatives used as organic UV absorbers have been observed in rigid solutions at 77 K. The triplet-triplet absorption spectra have been observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. The BP derivatives studied are 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (BP-2), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone (BP-6), 5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzophenone (BP-7) and 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxybenzophenone (BP-12). The energy levels and lifetimes of the lowest excited triplet (T1 ) states of these BP derivatives were determined from the first peak of phosphorescence. The time-resolved near-IR emission spectrum of singlet oxygen generated by photosensitization with BP-7 was observed in acetonitrile at room temperature. BP-2, BP-3, BP-6 and BP-12 show photoinduced phosphorescence enhancement in ethanol at 77 K. The possible mechanism of the observed phosphorescence enhancement is discussed. The T1 states of 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzophenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone and 2,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone have been studied for comparison.

Optical and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the excited states of a UV-B absorber (4-methylbenzylidene)camphor.

The excited states of UV-B absorber (4-methylbenzylidene)camphor (MBC) have been studied through measurements of UV absorption, phosphorescence, triplet-triplet (T-T) absorption, and steady-state and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra in ethanol. The energy level and lifetime of the lowest excited triplet (T(1)) state of MBC were determined. The energy level of the T(1) state of MBC is much lower than that of photolabile 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane. The weak phosphorescence and strong time-resolved EPR signals, and T-T absorption band of MBC were observed. These facts suggest that the significant proportion of the lowest excited singlet (S(1)) molecules undergoes intersystem crossing to the T(1) state and the deactivation process from the T(1) state is predominantly radiationless. The quantum yields of singlet oxygen production by MBC determined by time-resolved near-IR luminescence measurements are 0.05 ± 0.01 and 0.06 ± 0.01 in ethanol and in acetonitrile, respectively. The photostability of MBC arises from the (3)ππ* character in the T(1) state. The zero-field splitting parameters in the T(1) state are D = 0.0901 cm(-1) and E = -0.0498 cm(-1). The sublevel preferentially populated by intersystem crossing is T(y) (y close to in-plane short axis and to the C═O direction).

Excited states of menthyl anthranilate: a UV-A absorber.

The photophysical properties of menthyl anthranilate (MA), a UV-A absorber, have been studied through measurements of UV absorption, fluorescence, triplet-triplet absorption and time-resolved thermal lens in ethanol at room temperature and/or 77 K. The phosphorescence and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra have also been observed in ethanol at 77 K. The energy levels of the lowest excited singlet (S(1)) state and triplet (T(1)) state were determined. The quantum yields of fluorescence, phosphorescence and S(1) → T(1) intersystem crossing (ISC) were also determined. From the data on the lifetime and quantum yield, the rate constants of the radiative decay, internal conversion and ISC of the excited states of MA were determined. The exceptionally high ISC quantum yield of MA shows that the deactivation processes of the S(1) state of MA are different from those of most UV absorbers such as cinnamate, salicylate, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, benzotriazole and dibenzoylmethane derivatives, where the internal conversion rates of the S(1) states are much faster than the ISC rates. The observed T(1) lifetime and zero-field splitting parameters suggest that the T(1) state of MA possesses almost pure (3)ππ* character.

Photoexcited singlet and triplet states of a UV absorber ethylhexyl methoxycrylene.

The excited states of UV absorber, ethylhexyl methoxycrylene (EHMCR) have been studied through measurements of UV absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra in ethanol. The energy levels of the lowest excited singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) states of EHMCR were determined. The energy levels of the S1 and T1 states of EHMCR are much lower than those of photolabile 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane. The energy levels of the S1 and T1 states of EHMCR are lower than those of octyl methoxycinnamate. The weak phosphorescence and EPR B(min) signals were observed and the lifetime was estimated to be 93 ms. These facts suggest that the significant proportion of the S1 molecules undergoes intersystem crossing to the T1 state, and the deactivation process from the T1 state is predominantly radiationless. The photostability of EHMCR arises from the (3)ππ* character in the T1 state. The zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter in the T1 state is D** = 0.113 cm(-1).