The potential energy surfaces of the T₁ state of 1,3,5-hexatrienes and methylated derivatives: a survey of present knowledge

In previous studies considered was the time-resolved resonance Raman (TRRR) spectra of 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT) in its lowest excited triplet state in order to obtain information about the geometry of the T1 intermediate and the mechanism of the cis-trans photoisomerization in T1. In the present paper some results of the most recent experimental and theoretical studies are presented, and the present picture of the potential energy surface in the lowest excited T1 state of 1,3,5-hexatrienes evolving from these and the authors previous investigations is summarized. A more detailed account of this work is to be published. In order to obtain information on the T1 state of HT, several experimental and theoretical methods were used.