Evidence for an adiabatic reaction pathway for trans-to-cis photoisomerization of di(α-naphthyl)ethylene

Direct photocyclization of trans-di(α-naphthyl)ethylene to dihydropicene with a quantum yield of 0.03 was observed. The kinetics of the photochemical transformations and the effect of the excitation intensity on the yield of dihydropicene was studied. A novel adiabatic reaction pathway for trans-to-cis photoisomerization of di(α-naphthyl)ethylene was suggested.