Generation of Free Oxygen Atoms O( 3 P) in Solution by Photolysis of 4-Benzoylpyridine N-Oxide
Laser flash photolysis of 4-benzoylpyridine N-oxide (BPyO) at 308 nm in aqueous solutions generates a triplet excited state 3 BPyO* that absorbs strongly in the visible, λ max 490 and 380 nm. 3 BPyO* decays with the rate law k decay /s -1 = (3.3 ± 0.9) × 10 4 + (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10 9 [BPyO] to generate a mixture of isomeric hydroxylated benzoylpyridines, BPy(OH), in addition to small amounts of oxygen atoms, O( 3 P). Molecular oxygen quenches 3 BPyO*, k Q = 1.4 × 10 9 M -1 s -1 , but the yields of O( 3 P) increase in O 2 -saturated solutions to 36%. Other triplet quenchers have a similar effect, which rules out the observed 3 BPyO* as a source of O( 3 P). It is concluded that O( 3 P) is produced from either 1 BPyO* or a short-lived, unobserved, higher energy triplet generated directly from 1 BPyO*. 3 BPyO* is reduced by Fe 2+ and by ABTS 2- to the radical anion BPyO .- which exhibits a maximum at 510 nm, ε = 2200 M -1 cm -1 . The anion engages in back electron transfer with ABTS .- with k = 1.7 × 109 M -1 s -1 . The same species can be generated by reducing ground state BPyO with . C(CH 3 ) 2 OH. The photochemistry of BPyO in acetonitrile is similar to that in aqueous solutions.