Photochemical evolution of trans-retinal and trans-N-retinylidene n-butylamine under laser beam irradiation

Abstract Trans-retinal and trans-N-retinylidene n -butylamine have been irradiated by a laser beam in their absorption band and far from the maximum. Examination by Raman and visible spectroscopy shows that isomerization occurs, accompanied by transformation which seems to involve proton tansfer from the C 5 methyl to the polyene chain.