Photoinduced electron transfer in molecular systems: recent developments

Highlights of new findings in electron transfer studies, in which elegant synthetic model systems were used to address important fundamental questions, are briefly described. The selected examples include: (i) efficient long distance electron transfer mediated by hydrogen bonds; (ii) energy and electron transfer through the walls of hemicarcerands; (iii) the influence of internal electric fields on the rate of electron transfer in α-helical peptides; (iv) construction of a biomimetic proton pump driven by photoinduced electron transfer. The review underscores the increasing role of synthesis in modern physical chemistry research.