Monitoring photodecomposition of dibenzyl ketone within NaY zeolite with a pre-fluorescent nitroxide compound.

Benzyl radicals derived from photodecomposition of dibenzyl ketone have been monitored in NaY zeolite using the pre-fluorescent probe 4-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-quinolinoyloxy)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl free radical (QT). The steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence show a strong interaction of QT within the zeolite cavities. Furthermore, the increase in the fluorescence with the irradiation time reveals the efficient trapping of benzyl radicals by QT under vacuum. Dispersion of the zeolite composites in liquid polymers results in an improvement in the fluorescence measurement and faster kinetics in comparison with the solid samples. These results are interpreted in terms of partial refractive index matching as a consequence of polymer reptation into the zeolite cavities. Analysis of the fluorescence lifetime distribution shows the presence of different fluorescence ensembles with different fluorescence quantum yields, depending on the microenvironment within the zeolite particle. Pre-fluorescent probes offer a novel and useful methodology for studying radical processes in zeolites.