Group Projects
Ultrafast Photodynamics of Nucleic Acids
Studies of the photophysics and photodynamics of nucleic acids and their constituents are a major focus of the group. Characterization of the ultrafast lifetimes for nucleoside singlet excited states have catalyzed further studies including nucleic acid oligomers and polymers. Solvent effects, decay mechanisms, energy transfer pathways are amoung the investigations carried out through experiment and theory.
Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Model Systems
Electron transfer from a molecule can be followed by proton transfer along a hydrogen bond. The effect of solvent, temperature, thermodynamic driving force and other factors are investigated in systems such as Methyl Viologen where these process can occur on an ultrafast timescale. These systems are a model for dynamics in more comlex systems like Photosystem II.
Condensed-Phase Photoionization
A photoejected electron into condensed phase can recombine with the photoionized molecule. Indole can be monophotonically photoionized near it's threshold to create geminate ions with a well-defined initial distance and study this recombination process.
Carbene Dynamics
Carbene are highly unstable molecules containing a ?? carbon that undergo rapid intersystem crossing. We have discoverd one of the fastest known intermolecular proton transfer reactions to carbon with diphenylcarbene and diphenyl methyl cation.