Bioorganic and Environmental Photochemistry

Catalog description

This course discusses the fundamental principles of molecular and supramolecular photochemistry. In particular, the fundamental paradigms of light absorption by molecules and the photochemical and photophysical mechanisms by which molecules dispose of the excess electronic energy after light absorption will be described. The goal is to develop paradigms for understanding experimental and theoretical aspects of molecular and supramolecular photophysics relevant to organic, bioorganic, inorganic, and environmental photochemistry, as well as to other light-induced processes and applications such as photosynthesis, photodynamic therapy, photocatalysis, and photovoltaics. The paradigms for determining photochemical mechanisms, the theory of the fundamental photochemical primary processes, and examples of important photochemical primary processes will be reviewed. Selected experimental techniques and theoretical methods used to probe the dynamics of electronic excited states in molecules and their photoreactivity will be presented. Advanced photochemical applications for understanding the electronic relaxation pathways and photochemistry of selected families of bioorganic molecules and environmental pollutants, and application in photodynamic therapy of cancers will be discussed. Recommended Preparation: Knowledge of chemical kinetics ( CHEM 406 or equivalent) and elementary differential equations ( MATH 224 or equivalent) is convenient, but not necessary. Offered as CHEM 351 and CHEM 451 .