On the possibility of the observation of intramolecular reaction dynamics in liquids by time-resolved X-ray scattering

The feasibility of time-resolved structural studies using pulsed X-ray radiation from a 3rd generation synchrotron is discussed and compared with scattering experiments which might be possible with a future free electron laser (X-FEL). As an example, it is shown that the structural changes during the isomerisation process of trans-stilbene into cis-stilbene can be observed using time-resolved X-ray diffraction in the gas-phase as well as in solution.