Influence of solvent on the photochemistry of 4,4′-diaminostilbene

Studies on the fluorescence and direct trans-cis photoisomerization of 4,4′-diaminostilbene in a variety of solvents, indicate a marked effect of solvent polarity. With increasing solvent polarity there is a decrease in fluorescence yield and lifetime and an increase in the rate of photoisomerization. The results are discussed in terms of a polarity effect on the energy barrier to photoisomerization.