On the application of nanosecond laser flash photolysis to the investigation of the photoreactivity of di and triarylamines

This review aims to provide the readership with an overview of the applications of the time-resolved spectroscopic techniques (often combined with steady-state measurements) in the elucidation of the mechanism of the photochemical behaviour of diaryl- and triarylamines. Such derivatives undergo cyclization to the carbazoles or ionization to the corresponding amine radical cations depending on both the nature of the starting substrates and the reaction conditions. In this context, time-resolved spectroscopy techniques allowed for the detection and the full characterization of all the excited states and the transients involved in these processes. The main characteristics of such species, including lifetime, time-resolved absorption spectra, quantum yield values and rate constants of formation and decay in both homogeneous and micro-heterogeneous environment (e.g. aqueous surfactant solutions) are thus summarized in the presented paper.