Carbon isotopic effects in organic synthesis reactions with light irradiation

Abstract

The stable carbon isotope ratio (¹³C/¹²C) is widely used as a clue to elucidating the origin and transformation processes of organic compounds in geochemistry and environmental chemistry. Traditional isotope fractionation has been mainly considered to be based on mass differences, but the existence of magnetic isotope effects (MIE), where isotopes with nuclear spins demonstrate different behaviors in specific reaction processes, has also been reported, particularly becoming prominent in organic reactions involving radical intermediates. This study aims to clarify the fractionation behavior derived from the mass and magnetic properties of carbon isotopes by using organic synthesis reactions, including photo-induced reactions, as a model system. This is expected to contribute to the understanding of isotope fractionation in organic synthesis reactions in natural environments.