ABSTRACT Methyl cinnamate (MC) is an ester within the cinnamate family. Recent time-resolved gas-phase studies have suggested that upon excitation to its first singlet ππ* (11ππ*) state, there is initial… Click to show full abstract
ABSTRACT Methyl cinnamate (MC) is an ester within the cinnamate family. Recent time-resolved gas-phase studies have suggested that upon excitation to its first singlet ππ* (11ππ*) state, there is initial decay to the lowest lying singlet 1nπ* (11nπ*) state within 10 ps, en route to trans–cis isomerisation. In the present study, we have implemented time-resolved ion yield (TR-IY) and time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TR-PES) experiments in the gas-phase to precisely determine the lifetime of the 11ππ* state. We found this lifetime to be ∼ 4.5 ps using both TR-IY and TR-PES. MC was also studied in a more complex cyclohexane solution environment, using transient electronic absorption spectroscopy. Along with complementary steady-state irradiation and 1H NMR studies, these studies demonstrate that trans–cis isomerisation is preserved in the more complex, cyclohexane solution environment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
               
Click one of the above tabs to view related content.