Influence of Electron Acceptors and Donors on the Dye-Photosensitized Decomposition of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole

Abstract

It has been shown that the quantum yield of the dye-photosensitized decomposition of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) in aqueous solutions increases in the case of irradiation of dyes in the presence of electron acceptors. In the presence of electron donors, the quantum yields of the photosensitized decomposition reaction of MBT either remains unchanged or decreases. The donor thiocyanate and iodide ions were the exception; in this case, this was due to the formation of radical anions in the subsequent reactions of iodine and thiocyanate radicals with their anions, respectively. A mechanism has been suggested for the photosensitization of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole decomposition by dyes in the presence of electron acceptors and donors.