Chemical Dynamics of Electronically Excited Molecules in Restricted Spaces

This grant from the Organic Dynamics Program supports the continuing research of Professor Nicholas J. Turro at Columbia University. Results from this research will provide fundamental information about the behavior of reactive intermediates in restricted spaces. The research includes studies of excited molecules and reactive intermediates on organized molecular surfaces and cavities. One aspect of this study is the interaction of excited state molecules that are complexed to DNA. There are several general areas to which attention will be given in this project: (1) development of new techniques to detect and study reactive species that are produced by photolysis of molecules; (2) a study of radical pairs adsorbed on surfaces: (3) an investigation of flexible biradicals in homogeneous solution and in restricted spaces; (4) metal complexes as probes of binding of DNA structure and photoelectron transfer processes on DNA; and (5) research on photoinduced electron transfer on starburst dendrimers.