Online measurement of photoisomerisation efficiency in solution using ion mobility mass spectrometry.

The photoisomerisation of charged molecules in solution is probed directly using ion mobility mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation. The technique is demonstrated using a prototype azoheteroarene cation in methanol. By scanning the wavelength of the excitation light while monitoring the photoisomer intensity a photoisomerisation action spectrum is generated, which, when compared with a conventional absorption spectrum, allows the relative photoisomerisation quantum yield to be determined across a range of wavelengths.