A SIMPLE-MODEL FOR CONJUGATION LENGTHS IN LONG POLYENE CHAINS

By assuming that the conjugation length of a long polyene chain may be broken into segments (for example, by twists about the single bonds) and that the energy to create such a conjugation break is independent of where it occurs, a conjugation length distribution is derived. For long chains this distribution is dominated by short fragments, in agreement with conclusions drawn from measured absorption spectra. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.