Photochemical studies of unimolecular processes I. The photoisomerization of cycloheptatriene and cycloheptatriene-d 8

Abstract

The photochemical isomerization of cyclo [1.3.5] heptatriene to toluene was studied at seven wavelengths between 228.8 and 313.0 nm. It was shown to occur via a vibrationally excited ground state molecule, the isomerization being quenched by added gases (the parent molecule, toluene, SF$_{6}$, CO$_{2}$, He) according to the Stern-Volmer law. The perdeuteriated compound was also studied.