Mechanisms of Photochemical Reactions

Florida State University, Tallahassee FL

Investigators

Abstract

This project will investigate the mechanisms of selected chemical reactions. The focus is on olefins having one or more conjugated double bonds, whereupon a detailed understanding of the consequences of rotations about essential single bonds in the ground state and double bonds in the excited state will be sought. These processs are important in determining natural responses to light. Methods will be developed for the application of single-value decomposition with self-modeling to these problems, including the mechanism of the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin. With this Award the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program (Bimolecular Processes) of the Division of Chemistry continues support for the research program of Professor Jack Saltiel of Florida State University. Professor Saltiel's research explores the fundamental nature of light-induced chemical reactions and develops new methods for exploring these changes. Some of the applications are related to Vitamin D formation and in triggering the visual process and photosynthesis.