New light

Principles of molecular photochemistry: An introduction

Nicholas J Turro, V Ramamurthy and J C (Tito) Scaiano 

Sausalito, California, US: University Science Books 2009 | 495pp | ?42.99 (SB) 

ISBN 9781891389573 

Reviewed by Frank Wilkinson 

This textbook aims to familiarise both students and researchers with the critical concepts and methods involved in studies of organic molecular photochemistry. It is an excellent introduction written by three supreme masters in this their field. Those familiar with earlier texts by Nick Turro, including his Modern molecular photochemistry, will not be surprised to learn that this is another first class up-to-date book. It gives an understandable general introduction to both photophysical and photochemical processes of importance in organic photochemistry and will be of interest not only to chemists but to biologists and material scientists.  

Important topics such as radiative and non-radiative transitions between electronic states, energy and electron transfer and the theory of organic photochemical reactions are presented with plenty of examples and clear illustrations in well written chapters at a level appropriate for final year undergraduates. Some European students only familiar with SI units will need to know, for example, that a kcal mol^-1 is 4.184 kJ mol^-1 but they should not let this put them off using this well-crafted primer. 

I am sure all research workers in organic photochemistry, novice and expert alike, will find this book an invaluable addition to their personal libraries. They are likely to find the clear descriptions of complicated processes with a minimum of mathematical treatment most enlightening and the comprehensive list of references extremely useful.