An experimental study of CHT photolysis at 2537 A in argon and nitrogen (N_2) matrices is presented. The sole IR detectable product is identified as BCHD: bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-2, 6-diene. It is found that CHT molecules trapped in spectroscopically distinct sites were converted to the product at different rates. In the initial stages of the photolysis, the population of some CHT trapping sites increased, indicating site population transfer. In the long run, however, all sites were deleted. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to estimate the structure of the different sites, and together with a kinetic model, are used to account for the UV induced changes. A tentative energy level diagram of the system is offered, in an attempt to rationalize the total absence of toluene which is formed predominantly in the gas-phase irradiation of CHT at this wavelength. The "twin state" concept is instrumental in this rationalization.
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