EXCITED STATES AND REACTIVITY OF CARCINOGENIC BENZPYRENE; A COMPARISON WITH SKIN‐SENSITIZING COUMARINS*

Thomas A. Moore, William W. Mantulin, Pill‐Soon ‐S Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract— Significant spectroscopic difference was found between the 3(π, π*) state of coumarins and the 3La state of benzpyrene. No analogy of the partially localized triplet state associated with the coumarin chromophore was revealed in the case of the potent carcinogen, benzo[a]pyrene. Instead, the 3La state of benzo[a]pyrene is characterized by more derealization than that of the non–carcinogenic benzo[e]pyrene. Therefore, the predominant photoreaction between benzo[a]pyrene and DNA bases does not seem to involve cycloaddition in contrast to the coumarin‐pyrimidine system. Reactivity indices have been calculated, and results are consistent with recent experimental findings. In addition, spectroscopic properties of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[e]pyrene have been comparatively described in terms of relatively high‐resolution spectra, polarization measurements, and molecular orbital calculations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)185-194
Number of pages10
JournalPhotochemistry and photobiology
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1973
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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