Infrared laser multiphoton absorption and reaction of organic compounds: synthetically unique reaction control

Several examples of synthetically unique reaction control effected by pulsed infrared laser multiphoton irradiation are reviewed. The uniqueness derives from the ability of the pulsed laser to rapidly vibrationally heat molecules coupled with an extremely short reaction time of approximately 10 μs for the processes discussed herein. Three systems are discussed: a bifunctional reactant with competing reaction channels, a reactant with consecutive reaction channels, and the free radical chlorination of cyclopropane.