Novel photochemical reaction of itaconatopentamminecobalt(III) ion to produce a room temperature luminescent compound

Irradiation of itaconatopentamminecobalt(III) perchlorate complex in the ligand to metal charge transfer absorption band in aqueous solution using 254 nm radiation produced an oxidised ligand free radical, which further reacts with itaconatopentamminecobalt(III) ion and also by radical dimerisation reaction to form a compound which shows broad absorption at ∼265 nm and emission at ∼425 nm. The compound is identified to be a derivative of itaconic acid. The photoproduct shows two lifetimes of 1.5±0.1 ns and 5.5±0.5 ns indicating that the photoproduct decomposes at room temperature to give a second compound which is also luminescent.