Oxidative photobleaching of substituted anthracenes in thin polymer films

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry (1952) Vol. 94; no. 18; pp. 7194 - 7200
• Main Author: Sheats, James R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01-09-1990
• Subjects: 400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties; ANTHRACENE; AROMATICS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; Chemistry; CONDENSED AROMATICS; DATA; Exact sciences and technology; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; HYDROCARBONS; INFORMATION; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; KINETICS; Kinetics and mechanisms; NUMERICAL DATA; Organic chemistry; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; OXIDATION; PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS; POLYMERS; Reactivity and mechanisms; THIN FILMS; Polycyclic compound; Microviscosity; Polymer; Photochemical reaction; Tricyclic compound; Experimental study; Condensed benzenic compound; Absorption spectrum; Ultraviolet radiation; Oxidation; Kinetics; Rate constant; Photobleaching
• ISSN: 0022-3654; 1541-5740
• DOI: 10.1021/j100381a045

The photochemical reaction of diphenylanthracene (DPA) and dimethylanthracene (DMA) in thin spin-cast films of various polymers in the presence of oxygen, with direct irradiation as well as triplet sensitization, is reported. Kinetic equations are derived and used in conjunction with the analytical results of Sheats, Diamond, and Smith to determine reaction parameters from the optical transmittance data. Triplet yields are about 40%. The oxidation rates are substantially lower than in solution, more so for DMA than for DPA. The rate for DPA in poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) is similar to that in poly(diphenylsiloxane) (PDPS), while in poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) it is significantly faster.