title: Excimers and Exciplexes in Photoinitiated Processes of Oligonucleotides.
abstract: A lot has been learned about the physical and chemical transformations that originate from the absorption of light by DNA, and computational chemistry has played a critical role in revealing the mechanisms of how these transformations occur. Nucleic acids consist of chromophores interacting via π stacking and hydrogen bonding. The fate of these systems after they absorb light is determined by the interplay and competition between pathways involving one chromophore or interacting chromophores. This Perspective highlights the role of π stacking in photophysical and photochemical processes in oligonucleotides and reveals the importance of excimers and exciplexes. Special types of excimers/exciplexes, characterized as bonded excimers/exciplexes, are also found to be important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Temple University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Spata
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Temple University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Wook
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Temple University , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States.
authors.forename: Spiridoula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsika
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055668:Photochemical Processes
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D015075:2-Aminopurine