LASER INDUCED PHOTOLYSIS OF COENZYME B₁₂

The objectives of this project are to elucidate the nature of magnetic spin-spin interactions between two paramagnetic species formed in homolytic cobalt- carbon bond cleavage of coenzyme B₁₂ in polycrystalline state and in model membranes induced by He-Ne laser. Samples of coenzyme B₁₂ are studied in polycrystalline state and in two different model membranes. The dipolar distance between the two spins in the triplet state are estimated using a general relationship comparing the relative intensity of the half-field line vs. the full-field line. The participation or the contribution of the axial ligand benzimidazole in the activation and the rate of homolysis are of interest which are determined using base-on and base-off coenzyme B₁₂ model compounds.