Electronic mechanisms of activation of molecular oxygen

The theoretical views on the mechanisms of overcoming spin prohibitions in photo processes and in enzymatic activation of the O2 molecule are considered. The electronic structures of various quantum states of this molecule and collision complexes of oxygen with other molecules are given. The patterns of biochemical activation of O2 through T–S transitions in enzymatic complexes are proposed. It is noted that the enhancement mechanisms of specific exchange interactions in enzymatic complexes have common features with oxygen physical photoactivation mechanisms.