Photoinduced electron transfer in molecular systems: recent developments

Abstract

Highlights of new findings in electron transfer studies, in which elegant synthetic model systems were used to address important fundamental questions, are briefly described. The selected examples include: (i) efficient long distance electron transfer mediated by hydrogen bonds; (ii) energy and electron transfer through the walls of hemicarcerands; (iii) the influence of internal electric fields on the rate of electron transfer in α-helical peptides; (iv) construction of a biomimetic proton pump driven by photoinduced electron transfer. The review underscores the increasing role of synthesis in modern physical chemistry research.