Structural transformations in organic crystals during photochemical reactions

• Published in: Journal of physical organic chemistry Vol. 17; no. 10; pp. 837 - 847
• Main Author: Turowska-Tyrk, Ilona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.10.2004
• Subjects: crystal structure; crystals; photochemical reactions; reaction course; reaction order; structural changes; x-ray structure analysis
• ISSN: 0894-3230; 1099-1395
• DOI: 10.1002/poc.833

In the 1980s and 1990s, x‐ray studies of the photochemical reaction course in crystals dealt with the analysis of changes in cell constants or movements of atom groups inside molecules. This review presents the results of crystallographic studies on the monitoring of the behaviour of whole molecules in organic crystals during photochemical reactions. Papers on this subject started to appear only a few years ago. The studies showed quantitatively that reactant and product molecules do not take a fixed position in a crystal during the reaction. The product molecules move smoothly to a position assumed in the pure product crystal and the reactant molecules move from a position occupied in the pure reactant crystal. Moreover, with the reaction progress the adjacent reactant molecules gradually come closer and change their mutual orientation to resemble the product. The analysis of the photoreaction kinetics in crystals is also presented. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.