Basic Photophysical and Photochemical Concepts

Future developments are expected not only to yield a greater understanding of the mechanisms of many photochemical reactions, but also to provide a means for the adaptation of these reactions to large-scale industrial syntheses. A glimpse of the latter is seen in the production of e-caprolactam (Nylon 6 monomer) by the Toyo Rayon Company using the photonitrosation of cyclohexane. In this process nitrosyl chloride is cleaved by light and the following sequence of reactions takes place  

One plant in the Nagoya (Japan) region alone is capable of producing 120 tons of caprolactam per day. In addition, the Nylon 12 monomer, lauryl lactam, is being prepared by a similar route from cyclododecane. 

In this chapter we introduce many of the basic concepts and the vocabulary necessary for the study of photochemistry. 

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