Photochemical process leading to an
isomerization of the substrate,
either by bond rotation, skeletal
rearrangement or atom- or group- transfer.
Notes:
- Typical examples are cis-trans photosomerization of alkenes,
polyenes and phototautomerization.
- Photochemical pathways have the advantage over thermal and catalytic methods
of giving isomer mixtures (photostationary states) rich in thermodynamically unstable isomers.
- Photoisomerization is the primary photochemical reaction of the chromophore
in several biological photoreceptors such as retinal proteins
(e.g., rhodopsin), phytochromes, and the photoactive yellow protein.
Source:
PAC, 2007, 79, 293
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, 3rd edition (IUPAC Recommendations 2006))
on page 393
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
