Singlet Oxygen Photophysics: From Liquid Solvents to Mammalian Cells

Mikkel Bregnhøj, Frederik Thorning, Peter Remsen Ogilby*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperReviewResearchpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Molecular oxygen, O2, has long provided a cornerstone for studies in chemistry, physics, and biology. Although the triplet ground state, O2(X3Σg-), has garnered much attention, the lowest excited electronic state, O2(a1Δg), commonly called singlet oxygen, has attracted appreciable interest, principally because of its unique chemical reactivity in systems ranging from the Earth’s atmosphere to biological cells. Because O2(a1Δg) can be produced and deactivated in processes that involve light, the photophysics of O2(a1Δg) are equally important. Moreover, pathways for O2(a1Δg) deactivation that regenerate O2(X3Σg-), which address fundamental principles unto themselves, kinetically compete with the chemical reactions of O2(a1Δg) and, thus, have practical significance. Due to technological advances (e.g., lasers, optical detectors, microscopes), data acquired in the past ∼20 years have increased our understanding of O2(a1Δg) photophysics appreciably and facilitated both spatial and temporal control over the behavior of O2(a1Δg). One goal of this Review is to summarize recent developments that have broad ramifications, focusing on systems in which oxygen forms a contact complex with an organic molecule M (e.g., a liquid solvent). An important concept is the role played by the M+•O2-• charge-transfer state in both the formation and deactivation of O2(a1Δg).

Original languageEnglish
JournalChemical Reviews
Volume124
Issue17
Pages (from-to)9949-10051
Number of pages103
ISSN0009-2665
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2024

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