Supramolecular photochemistry: from molecular crystals to water-soluble capsules

Photochemical and photophysical behavior of molecules in supramolecular assemblies are different and more selective than in gas and isotropic solution phases. Knowledge of the inherent electronic and steric properties of the reactant is insufficient to predict the excited state behavior of molecules confined in such assemblies. Weak interactions between the medium and the reactant as well as the free space in a reaction cavity would play a significant role in modulating the excited state properties of molecules when they are included within confined spaces. The concepts of 'Molecular Photochemistry' should be modified while applying them to 'Supramolecular Photochemistry'. In this review we show that the topochemical rules established to understand reactions in crystals could be extended to supramolecular assemblies in general. To make the best use of the medium one needs to understand the features of the medium, the nature of interaction between the medium and the molecule and the rules that govern the behavior of a molecule in that medium. This tutorial provides introduction to these aspects of 'Supramolecular Photochemistry'.