Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry

The absorption of UV–visible light by conjugated systems causes the promotion of an electron from the ground state to the excited state. Consequently, photochemical electrocyclic reactions proceed via the excited-state HOMO rather than the ground-state HOMO. Since the ground- and excited-state HOMOs have different symmetries, the stereochemical outcome of electrocyclic reactions depends on the mode of activation; i.e., thermal or photochemical.
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Some cycloaddition reactions are activated by heat, while others are initiated by light. For example, a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between two ethylene molecules occurs only in the presence of light. It is photochemically allowed but thermally forbidden.

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview

Electrocyclic reactions are reversible reactions. They involve an intramolecular cyclization or ring-opening of a conjugated polyene. Shown below are two examples of electrocyclic reactions. In the first reaction, the formation of the cyclic product is favored. In contrast, in the second reaction, ring-opening is favored due to the high ring strain associated with cyclobutene formation.

The Photochemical Reaction Center

The Photochemical Reaction Center

Reaction centers are pigment-protein complexes that initiate energy conversion from photons to chemical entities. Therefore, photochemical reaction center is a more appropriate term that describes these complexes. The Nobel laureates Robert Emerson and William Arnold provided the first experimental evidence of photochemical reaction centers by demonstrating the participation of nearly 2,500 chlorophyll molecules for the release of just one molecule of oxygen. Despite thousands of photosynthetic...

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been...

Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence

Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence

Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Enantioselective Crystal Growth Induced by Mesoscopic Helical Platforms.

Chirality·2026

Same author

Light and Dark Cycles Control the Structural Evolution of Photoresponsive Supramolecular Systems.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Selective, Oxygen-Tunable, and Metal-Free Functionalization of Polyethylene Through Dual-Mode Nitrosation and Carbonylation.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same author

2D Assemblies Based on a Tetraphenylethylene D,L-Cyclic Peptide Scaffold.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same author

Inverting the Circularly Polarized Luminescence Handedness of Chiral Supramolecular Polymers Using Temperature.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same author

Reassessing the Photochemical Upcycling of Polystyrene Using Acridinium Salts.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

Published on: May 29, 2018

Supramolecular photochemistry: recent progress and key challenges.

Alejandro Méndez-Ardoy¹, Dario M Bassani¹

¹Institute of Molecular Sciences CNRS UMR5255, Univ. Bordeaux, 33405 Talence, France. d.bassani@ism.u-bordeaux1.fr.

Faraday Discussions

|November 5, 2015

Summary

Supramolecular photochemistry has advanced significantly, with recent progress in solar energy, sensors, and molecular machines. Key challenges and future directions in this dynamic field are highlighted.

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Published on: February 7, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

Published on: May 29, 2018

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

Published on: February 7, 2022

Area of Science:

Chemistry
Photochemistry
Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

Supramolecular photochemistry has seen substantial development over the past three decades.
This field merges supramolecular chemistry with photochemical principles.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize the Closing Remarks from a Faraday Discussion on supramolecular photochemistry.
To highlight recent advancements and persistent challenges in the field.
To showcase applications in solar energy, sensing, and molecular devices.

Main Methods:

Review of recent progress and challenges in supramolecular photochemistry.
Discussion of topical areas including solar energy conversion.
Examination of luminescent sensors, molecular logic, and machines.
Exploration of supramolecular photocatalysis.

Main Results:

Significant progress has been made in supramolecular photochemistry.
Key challenges remain in areas like solar energy conversion and photocatalysis.
Emerging applications include advanced sensors and molecular machines.

Conclusions:

The field of supramolecular photochemistry is rapidly evolving.
Continued research is needed to address current challenges and unlock new applications.
Interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for future breakthroughs.