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Photochemistry and Photophysics of Coordination Compounds

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<strong>Photochemistry</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Photophysics</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coordination</strong> <strong>Compounds</strong> 33<br />

can be obtained by using an electron relay, again consuming only sunlight<br />

without generation <strong>of</strong> waste products [95].<br />

6<br />

Conclusions<br />

Research on the photochemistry <strong>and</strong> photophysics <strong>of</strong> coordination compounds<br />

has shown an extraordinary quantitative development as well as pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />

qualitative changes over the years. Studies on intramolecular photoreactions<br />

<strong>and</strong> luminescence properties <strong>of</strong> coordination compounds <strong>of</strong> simple<br />

lig<strong>and</strong>s have been followed by investigations on compounds containing complex<br />

synthetic lig<strong>and</strong>s. Characterization <strong>of</strong> excited-state properties has been<br />

followed by extensive use <strong>of</strong> metal complexes in bimolecular processes. With<br />

the advent <strong>of</strong> supramolecular chemistry, luminescent <strong>and</strong>/or photoredox reactive<br />

metal complexes have been used as essential components in a bottomup<br />

approach to the construction <strong>of</strong> molecular devices <strong>and</strong> machines. In the<br />

next few years research on the photochemistry <strong>and</strong> photophysics <strong>of</strong> coordination<br />

compounds will largely be concentrated on the development <strong>of</strong> supramolecular<br />

systems for solar energy conversion <strong>and</strong> information processes. In this<br />

regard, it should be noted that the photoactive components presently used are<br />

very limited in number. Therefore, there is a need to extend basic research<br />

in order to discover novel mononuclear coordination compounds capable <strong>of</strong><br />

exhibiting long excited-state lifetimes, reversible redox behavior, <strong>and</strong> stability<br />

toward photodecomposition. The large number <strong>of</strong> metals that can be used<br />

<strong>and</strong> the endless number <strong>of</strong> lig<strong>and</strong>s that can be designed <strong>and</strong> synthesized open<br />

an ample horizon to these studies, as illustrated in the other chapters in this<br />

volume.<br />

Acknowledgements We acknowledge MIUR (PRIN projects no. 2006034123 & 2006030320),<br />

the University <strong>of</strong> Bologna <strong>and</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> Messina for financial support.<br />

References<br />

1. John DHD, Field GTJ (1963) A textbook <strong>of</strong> photographic chemistry. Chapman <strong>and</strong><br />

Hall, London<br />

2. Balzani V, Carassiti V (1970) <strong>Photochemistry</strong> <strong>of</strong> coordination compounds. Academic,<br />

London<br />

3. Ciamician G (1912) Science 36:385<br />

4. Leighton WG, Forbes GS (1930) J Am Chem Soc 52:3139<br />

5. Basolo F, Pearson RG (1958) Mechanisms <strong>of</strong> inorganic reactions. Wiley, New York<br />

6. Ballhausen CJ (1962) Introduction to lig<strong>and</strong> field theory. McGraw-Hill, New York<br />

7. Orgel LE (1954) Q Rev London 8:422<br />

8. Jorgensen CK (1962) Absorption spectra <strong>and</strong> chemical bonding in complexes. Pergamon,<br />

Oxford

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