Photochemistry (PC), 2017-2018 - Prospectus

Photochemistry
Up to date schedule information

Core course in MSc Chemistry – Energy & Sustainability, elective course MSc Chemistry, MSc Life Science and Technology

Admission requirements

BSc in MST with a major in Chemistry or BSc LST with a minor advanced LST, are better prepared for the PC course. Other students should have a basic knowledge in basic quantum chemistry (atomic s, p, d orbitals, molecular orbitals, meaning of the wave function), organic chemistry (covalent bond, pi systems and conjugation), inorganic chemistry (crystal field theory), chemical kinetics (1st and 2nd order rate laws, elementary processes, transition states), and biochemistry (structure of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids). A crash course in chemical kinetics and in electrochemistry is provided at the beginning of the course.

Description

Photochemistry studies the action of light on molecules. Understanding photochemistry allows for explaining light-driven phenomena occurring in nature such as vision or photosynthesis; to study cells, materials, or chemical reactions by using fluorophores, imaging agents, or time-dependent spectroscopy; and to develop synthetic light-responsive systems for curing diseases or making solar fuels. Photochemistry is governed by quantum chemistry, excited states, and orbitals. It spans 15 orders of magnitude of time scale range, from femtoseconds for photon absorption to minutes or hours for photoreactions or phosphorescence.
In the PC course basic photochemistry concepts such as excited state multiplicity, photoreaction and emission quantum efficiency, or excited state lifetimes, are first explained. Then, a range of different elementary processes that can follow molecule excitation, are described, including for example emission, non-radiative relaxation, and a range of photoreactions such as electron transfer, energy transfer, or ligand photosubstitution reactions. Two lectures are dedicated to the theoretical modeling of excited states using quantum calculations and the theory of electron transfer (Marcus theory); a computer lab is organized to introduce the students in a practical manner to the representation and modeling of excited states. One course is dedicated to time-dependent spectroscopy for the study of photocatalytic and phototherapeutic compounds. Then, the role of photochemistry in biology is discussed, by a study of vision, followed by the description of Förster energy transfer probes for the study of biomolecules and biological processes. A special lecture is dedicated to photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment, photoactivated chemotherapy, and optogenetics. A last, major part of the photochemistry course is dedicated to the principles of photoredox catalysis and their application for the sustainable production of solar fuels and artificial photosynthesis.

At the end of the course students:

will have knowledge of fundamental principles of photochemistry
will have knowledge of the fundamental principles for simulating and representing excited states of molecules
will have knowledge of the fundamental principles of electron transfer, energy transfer, and photosubstitution reactions
will have an overview of the applications of photochemistry in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry
will be able to construct a mechanism of photoredox catalysis, or to propose experiments to construct such a mechanism
will have knowledge of the principles of solar fuels production and on what sustainable energy production requires
will be able to understand a time-resolved spectroscopic study
can digest and present a summary of 95% of the scientific articles on photochemistry

Mode of Instruction

Lectures (10 sessions), exercises (4 sessions), and a computer lab (1 session)

Language

English

Timetable

Schedule information can be found on the website of the programmes.

Literature

The course is based on the slides presented during the courses and exercises corrected together. The following book is recommended:
Vincenzo Balzani, Paola Ceroni, Alberto Juris (2014) Photochemistry and Photophysics, Concepts, Research, Application, Wiley VCH (ISBN: 978-3-527-33479-7).

Photochemistry (PC)