((Z)-l-, 2-, and 9-EAD, and (E)-2-EAD, respectively) undergo photochemical 2-E isomerization under thermal activation. The temperature dependence of their isomerization quantum yields and the temperature independence of lifetimes of their T,+ TI absorptions indicate that EADs isomerize adiabatically between the 2 and E isomers in the lowest excited triplet state by overcoming an activation barrier (E,= 19-46 kJ mol-') of the ...