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Photochemistry and photophysics of glycolaldehyde in solution

Conference · · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6645280

The end products for the photolysis of glycolaldehyde in aqueous solution have been monitored by mass spectrometric, FTIR, /sup 1/H NMR, /sup 13/C NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopic techniques. Methanol, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and malonaldehyde are the major photochemical products and are in accord with earlier CIDNP studies. The quantum yields of fluorescence for glycolaldehyde and a series of related alkanal compounds in solution are reported for the first time; they are all in the range Phi/sub F/ = 0.71-0.84 x 10/sup -3/. The singlet state decay kinetics for glycolaldehyde and ethanol were followed in more detail by measurement of their fluorescence lifetimes in solution with use of a synchrotron radiation source. The results may be explained in terms of emission from free and hydrogen-bonded singlet n..pi..* excited states of the carbonyl compounds in water.

Research Organization:
Univ. of East Anglia, Norwich, England
OSTI ID:
6645280
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 109:3; ISSN JACSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English