Isatin phenylhydrazones: anion enhanced photochromic behaviour.

The photochemical properties of two basic easily synthesized isatin N(2)-phenylhydrazones were investigated. Contrary to the corresponding isatin N(2)-diphenylhydrazones, only Z-isomers were isolated from the reaction mixtures during the synthesis due to their stabilization by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Although the presence of the C=N double bond creates conditions for the formation of a simple on-off photoswitch, the low photochemical quantum yield and particularly the low switching amplitude in absorbance hamper their photochromic applications. However, the addition of strongly basic anions to phenylhydrazone solutions leads to isatin NH group deprotonation and creates a new diazene T-type Vis-Vis photochromic system with sufficiently separated absorption maxima. Interestingly, although the thermally stable A-form is also photostable in ambient light, its irradiation with a stronger LED source leads to thermally unstable B-form formation which rapidly isomerizes back to the corresponding A-form. The process is reversible and switching cycles can be repeated in both directions. The important advantages of this two-component organic chromophore-inorganic anion photochromic system are its easy synthesis, easy handling due to its insensitivity to room light, easy further structural modification and reversibility. The corresponding photochemical quantum yield, however, remains relatively low (Φ âˆ¼ 0.001). The theoretically calculated properties are in agreement with the obtained experimental results and support the proposed reaction mechanism.

Method for comparing the efficiency of ultrasound irradiation independent of the shape and the volume of the reaction vessel in sonochemical experiments.

The method described herein this review compares the efficiency of ultrasound irradiation in sonochemical experiments in organic solvents. This method was shown to be independent of the shape and volume of the reaction vessel. The principle of this method is based on the fact that the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the entire reaction volume during acoustic cavitation depends on the ultrasound power or intensity of ultrasound field respectively. The concentration of dissolved oxygen is determined by the measurement of the fluorescence intensity with fluorescence probes.

Ultrasound effects on photochemical reactions, part 1: photochemical reactions of ketones with alkenes.

Ultrasound considerably enhances and simplifies photochemical reaction of cyclohexanone with cyclohexene. The Paterno-Büchi reaction of acetone with ethyl vinyl ether is enhanced by ultrasound and yields a different ratio of cis/trans oxetanes under sonication by comparison with the silent reaction. Sonication appears to affect the first reaction by homogenization of excited intermediates and by quenching the excited triplet state at the second reaction.