Photodimerization of Cinnamic Acid in the Solid State: New Insights on Application of Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

The phase changes for the topochemical photodimerizations of cinnamic acid (see below) can literally be seen under the atomic force microscope. Completely unexpected are the surface reactions involving substantial material transport, observed for α- and β-trans-cinnamic acid. They call for reconsideration of the fundamentals of the topochemical principle.