Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.110, No.12, 6270-6273, 2006
Solid-state photodimerization kinetics of alpha-trans-cinnamic acid to alpha-truxillic acid studied via solid-state NMR
The present work focuses on the topochemical photoconversion process in which a-trans-cinnamic acid becomes a-truxillic acid. This solid-state [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction has previously been studied with X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and vibrational spectroscopy. However structural and kinetic details about the reaction are still debated. We present results from C-13 cross-polarization magic angle spinning solid-state NMR experiments that suggest that the Johnson, Mehl, Avrami, and Kolmogorov model of phase transformation kinetics can be applied to this system. The model elucidates parameters of the reaction, such as the nucleation rate, diffusion rate, and dimensionality of the reaction. From our data, it is concluded that this reaction follows one-dimensional growth with a decreasing nucleation rate.