Primary photochemical processes in the sodium salt of 9,10 dihydroanthracene

Abstract

Using radiation of wavelengths 550, 450, and 366 nm the excitation of the solvent separated ion-pair, sodium dihydroanthracene, and the resulting primary photochemical processes were studied at 85 K in methyltetrahydrofuran. At all excitation wavelengths there is a low quantum yield of production of the anthracene anionic free radical plus a H atom. Emissions from both the excited ion-pair and a photochemically-produced, substituted benzyl radical are reported and used to elucidate the kinetic scheme of the observed processes. The effect of raising the temperature from 85 K to room temperature is also examined.