Intramolecular energy transfer and photoisomerization in stilbene dendrimers

Abstract

Stilbene dendrimers with energy harvesting chromophores, such as naphthalene and benzophenone, have been prepared and their photochemical and photophysical properties have been examined. These dendrimers underwent trans–cis mutual photoisomerization on excitation of the core stilbene or the peripheral naphthalene and benzophenone chromophores through several energy transfer processes, and photophysical processes such as intersystem crossing finally resulted in cis-trans isomerization of the core stilbene.