PHOTOCHEMICAL SENSITIZATION BY 7‐METHYLBENZ[c]ACRIDINE AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

Abstract. The carcinogenic environmental contaminant, 7‐methylbenz[c]acridine (7MBAC), generates singlet oxygen in high yield when irradiated with near‐UV light. The photophysical and photochemical properties are reported for 7MBAC and several related acridine, anthracene and benzanthracene derivatives in aqueous surfactant solutions and in methanol. Singlet oxygen production was assessed by measuring the rates of oxygen uptake in irradiated solutions containing oxidizable substrates, such as 2,5‐dimethylfuran or histidine. Relative yields of free radical production from the irradiated sensitizers were determined by the initiation of free radical polymerization of acrylamide.