Unravelling photoisomerization dynamics in a metastable-state photoacid

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2024 Jan 31;26(5):4062-4070. doi: 10.1039/d3cp04454h.

Abstract

Direct access to trans-cis photoisomerization in a metastable state photoacid (mPAH) remains challenging owing to the presence of competing excited-state relaxation pathways and multiple transient isomers with overlapping spectra. Here, we reveal the photoisomerization dynamics in an indazole mPAH using time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) spectroscopy by exploiting a unique property of this mPAH having fluorescence only from the trans isomer. The combination of these experimental results with time-dependent density function theory (TDDFT) calculations enables us to gain mechanistic insight into this key dynamical process.