Surface photochemistry: exergonic and endergonic photocatalysed reaction in the CdS-mediated cis–trans-isomerization of cis-4-substituted stilbenes
Abstract
The cis-stibenes (1a–g) undergo photocatalysed cis-trans-isomerization on CdS; the Hammett plot for the reaction has a sharp break at σ+=–0.19 [E°½= 1.47 V vs. standard calomel electrode] and is rationalized in terms of both exergonic and endergonic photocatalysed processes on the semiconductor with different rate-determining steps.