Photochemistry and photophysics of triarylmethane dye leuconitriles.

The photochemical reactions of crystal violet leuconitrile (CVCN) were investigated by the means of product analysis and trapping experiments, laser flash and steady-state photolysis, and steady-state fluorescence. The influence of oxygen on the reaction was examined in detail. The photochemistry of malachite green leuconitrile (MGCN), basic fuchsin leuconitrile (BFCN), and crystal violet leucomethyl (CVMe) and leucobenzyl (CVBn), as well as triphenylacetonitrile, was studied. The results suggest ionization occurs from S1, while the di-pi-methane reaction is the photochemical route from T1.