A study of the spiropyran-merocyanine system using ion mobility-mass spectrometry: experimental support for the cisoid conformation.

The spiropyran-merocyanine system was studied using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and three major conformers were identified. Assignment of conformers is based on DFT-B3LYP energy minimized structures and collision cross-sections as light-induced changes in IM-MS. The three conformers were assigned to the spiropyran, cisoid and transoid structures.