THE DYNAMICS OF PHOTODISSOCIATION REACTIONS IN SOLUTION

Elementary photoreactions were examined in solution by femtosecond abs orption spectroscopy. The transition state properties, energy and cohe rence transfer into product molecules, various solvent-mediated relaxa tion mechanisms and influence of solvent diffusion in governing reacti on rates are discussed. Two types of reaction are presented. The first involves the impulsive photodissociation of HgI2 in a solution of eth anol and the second demonstrates how condensed phase hydrogen abstract ion processes differ from those in the gas phase.