Solvent dependent photo-isomerization of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene carboxylic acid

We have observed reversible trans-cis photo-isomerization behaviors of 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene carboxylic acid (4DAzC) in ethyl acetate by alternating irradiations at 370 and 430 nm. The photo-isomerization from trans- to cis-isomer was found to be strongly solvent dependent and not to occur efficiently in water and ethanol. Also photo-isomerization from cis- to trans-isomer was occurred upon 370 nm illumination or via thermal relaxation. The activation energy for the thermal isomerization from cis to trans-isomer was estimated to be 49.2 kJ/mol in ethyl acetate from the temperature-dependent kinetic absorption measurements.