Photochemistry of Tetrazole Derivatives in Cryogenic Rare Gas Matrices

Abstract

In this Chapter, besides a brief description of the matrix isolation technique and discussion of its main advantages and drawbacks when applied to photochemical studies on organic molecules, a general overview of the photochemistry of tetrazoles and the general pattern of their photoreactions is presented. The application of tetrazoles in agriculture and medicine is widespread and well-known. In many drugs and drug-candidates, replacement of carboxylic acid groups, −COOH, by tetrazolic acid fragments, −CNH, is frequent, resulting in an increase in bioavailability and potency of the pharmacophore. Tetrazoles also have many other applications, such as in photography and photoimaging, and in automobile industry as gas generating agents for airbags. These compounds also exhibit a very rich photochemistry, which is strongly influenced by the substituents present in the tetrazolic ring.