Photochemical cleavage of individual stereoisomers of coumarin-5-fluorouracil crossdimers via single- and two-photon-absorption

Coumarin-5-fluorouracil crossdimers were photochemically synthesized. Three different isomers were isolated and their photo-cycloreversion, induced by single- and two-photon-absorption, was studied. The single-photon absorption quantum yields strongly correlate with the dipole moments and the absorption behavior of the stereoisomers. Between the stereoisomers a maximal factor of 6.5 in cyclobutane cleavage efficiency is observed. The two-photon-absorption cross-sections were determined for all three stereoisomers. A good correlation between the single and two-photon-absorption cross-sections was found. The isomer with the highest light sensitivity is the syn-head-to-head isomer. For most applications, isomer pure preparations seem advisable as the required light intensities may be reduced significantly.