photoinduced electron transfer (process) (PET)

Photoinduced electron transfer describes the process where an electron is transferred from an electrically excited donor molecule to an acceptor molecule following the absorption of light[1][2][16]. This results in charge separation, forming a radical cation (donor) and radical anion (acceptor). PET is fundamental in photosynthesis, photoredox catalysis, fluorescent sensors, and organic synthesis. Mechanistically, PET requires close proximity and appropriate energy alignment of donor and acceptor electrons, and it can occur both intermolecularly or intramolecularly, depending on molecular design and spatial arrangement. PET is a pivotal process rather than a discrete molecular entity and cannot be considered a therapeutic target in the classical sense.

Other names

PETphoto-induced electron transferphotoinduced charge transfer