Photoreactions

The study of organic photochemical reactions is linked to physical chemistry, particularly to spectroscopy. This intense cooperation between two research domains enables a profound and comprehensive understanding of reaction mechanisms and consequently a facile optimization of the reactions. The Norrish Type II reaction and the competing Yang cyclization are classical photochemical reactions of carbonyl compounds. The photochemical reaction between carbonyl compounds and alkenes is the most versatile method for the synthesis of oxetanes. Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions play a dominant role in the chemistry of life. In contrast to most organic molecules and many inorganic molecules, the ground state of oxygen possesses triplet spin multiplicity. Photooxygenation with singlet oxygen considerably enriches the oxidation methodology in organic synthesis. Furthermore, the simple cheap oxidants air or molecular oxygen is used to perform sophisticated oxidations. Photochemical reactions on laboratory-scales are traditionally performed in batch mode using either immersion well or chamber reactors