Excited-state dynamics of trans,trans-distyrylbenzene: A femtosecond transient absorption study

We report a study of excited-state dynamics of trans,trans-distyrylbenzene in hexane solution with femtosecond two-color transient absorption spectroscopy. Excited-state spectra at different pump–probe time delays were extracted and exhibit a spectral shift in 10 ps. This 10-ps transient behavior is proposed to reflect an energy transfer process to a new intermediate state and the transferred population then relaxes through emitting photons. Its implications for photoisomerization and the comparison with trans-stilbene are discussed.