Azobenzene photoisomerization quantum yields in methanol redetermined.

The quantum yields of azobenzene photoisomerization in methanol solution were redetermined using newly obtained molar absorption coefficients of its cis- and trans-isomers. The results differ substantially from those published previously, especially in the range of the nπ* absorption band. Besides actinometry, these findings are relevant for applications of azobenzene derivatives in optical switching.