This grant from the Organic Dynamics Program supports the research program directed by Professor Robert S. Sheridan at the University of Nevada Reno. Photochemical generation of biradicals in matrices and in solution will be examined. The mechanism of decomposition of the azo precursors to meta-photoaddition biradicals will be studied in order to determine the structural features which dictate stepwise versus concerted partitioning on the reaction surface. Experiments designed to determine if hot molecule reactions are important in matrices and in solution will be conducted. Photochemical pathways to didehydroaromatic biradicals will also be explored. %%% The interaction of light with highly energetic molecules trapped at low temperature in solid matrices will be examined. The low temperature matrix will prolong the lifetime of reactive species formed in these photochemical reactions by effectively isolating these reactive intermediates from each other. The effect of adding more energy than necessary to form these reactive intermediates will be carefully examined. These studies will provide important information on the decomposition pathways of highly energetic molecules and intermediates.
