Principles and Applications of Photochemistry

A modern introduction to photochemistry covering the principles and applications of this topic from both a physical chemistry and organic chemistry angle. Coverage ranges from subjects such as lasers, the atmosphere, biochemistry, medicine and industry and also includes the latest developments in relation to photochemical molecular machines, photodynamic therapy applied to cancer, photochromatic imaging, and photostabilizers. Little in the way of prior knowledge is assumed, and the reader is aided by numerous worked examples, learning objectives, chapter summaries and problems.

Table of Contents:
Preface xiii 1 Introductory Concepts 1 Aims and Objectives 1 1.1 The Quantum Nature of Matter and Light 2 1.2 Modelling Atoms: Atomic Orbitals 6 1.3 Modelling Molecules: Molecular Orbitals 9 1.4 Modelling Molecules: Electronic States 13 1.5 Light Sources Used in Photochemistry 16 1.6 Efficiency of Photochemical Processes: Quantum Yield 25 2 Light Absorption and Electronically-excited States 29 Aims and Objectives 29 2.1 Introduction 29 2.2 The Beer–Lambert Law 30 2.3 The Physical Basis of Light Absorption by Molecules 32 2.4 Absorption of Light by Organic Molecules 35 2.5 Linearly-conjugated Molecules 39 2.6 Some Selection Rules 42 2.7 Absorption of Light by Inorganic Complexes 43 3 The Physical Deactivation of Excited States 47 Aims and Objectives 47 3.1 Introduction 47 3.2 Jablonski Diagrams 49 3.3 Excited-state Lifetimes 53 4 Radiative Processes of Excited States 59 Aims and Objectives 59 4.1 Introduction 60 4.2 Fluorescence and Fluorescence Spectra 61 4.3 An Exception to Kasha’s Rule 63 4.4 Fluorescence Quantum Yield 64 4.5 Factors Contributing to Fluorescence Behaviour 65 4.6 Molecular Fluorescence in Analytical Chemistry 67 4.7 Phosphorescence 70 4.8 Delayed Fluorescence 73 4.9 Lanthanide Luminescence 74 5 Intramolecular Radiationless Transitions of Excited States 77 Aims and Objectives 77 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 The Energy Gap Law 79 5.3 The Franck–Condon Factor 79 5.4 Heavy Atom Effects on Intersystem Crossing 82 5.5 El-Sayed’s Selection Rules for Intersystem Crosssing 83 6 Intermolecular Physical Processes of Excited States 87 Aims and Objectives 87 6.1 Quenching Processes 88 6.2 Excimers 90 6.3 Exciplexes 93 6.4 Intermolecular Electronic Energy Transfer 96 6.5 The Trivial or Radiative Mechanism of Energy Transfer 97 6.6 Long-range Dipole–Dipole (Coulombic) Energy Transfer 98 6.7 Short-range Electron-exchange Energy Transfer 105 6.8 Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) 110 7 Some Aspects of the Chemical Properties of Excited States 119 Aims and Objectives 119 7.1 The Pathway of Photochemical Reactions 120 7.2 Differences between Photochemical and Thermal Reactions 124 7.3 Photolysis 127 7.4 An Introduction to the Chemistry of Carbon-centred Radicals 133 7.5 Photochemistry of the Complexes and Organometallic Compounds of d-block Elements 135 8 The Photochemistry of Alkenes 145 Aims and Objectives 145 8.1 Excited States of Alkenes 146 8.2 Geometrical Isomerisation by Direct Irradiation of C=C Compounds 147 8.3 Photosensitised Geometrical Isomerisation of C=C Compounds 149 8.4 Concerted Photoreactions 151 8.5 Photocycloaddition Reactions 157 8.6 Photoaddition Reactions 159 9 The Photochemistry of Carbonyl Compounds 161 Aims and Objectives 161 9.1 Excited States of Carbonyl Compounds 162 9.2 α-cleavage Reactions 163 9.3 Intermolecular Hydrogen-abstraction Reactions 166 9.4 Intramolecular Hydrogen-abstraction Reactions 167 9.5 Photocyloaddition Reactions 168 9.6 The Role of Carbonyl Compounds in Polymer Chemistry 169 10 Investigating Some Aspects of Photochemical Reaction Mechanisms 173 Aims and Objectives 173 10.1 Introduction 174 10.2 Information from Electronic Spectra 174 10.3 Triplet-quenching Studies 176 10.4 Sensitisation 180 10.5 Flash Photolysis Studies 182 10.6 Low-temperature Studies 195 Further Reading 196 11 Semiconductor Photochemistry 197 Aims and Objectives 197 11.1 Introduction to Semiconductor Photochemistry 198 11.2 Solar-energy Conversion by Photovoltaic Cells 199 11.3 Semiconductors as Sensitisers for Water Splitting 204 11.4 Semiconductor Photocatalysis 208 11.5 Semiconductor-photoinduced Superhydrophilicity 211 Further Reading 212 12 An Introduction to Supramolecular Photochemistry 213 Aims and Objectives 213 12.1 Some Basic Ideas 214 12.2 Host–Guest Supramolecular Photochemistry 215 12.3 Supramolecular Photochemistry in Natural Systems 221 12.4 Artificial Photosynthesis 229 12.5 Photochemical Supramolecular Devices 233 Further Reading 238 Index 241