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Singlet oxygen

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Molecular Orbital diagram for singlet oxygen. Quantum mechanics predict that this configuration with the paired electrons is unfavorable.

Singlet oxygen is a reactive oxygen species that is higher in energy than the predominant species in the atmosphere, triplet oxygen. It results from the energetically unfavorable pairing of electrons. Most people are familiar with oxygen written as O=O; this is actually the correct form for singlet oxygen but not the predominant triplet oxygen. Over time, singlet oxygen will decay into triplet oxygen, but since this process is quantum mechanically forbidden transition, it takes place over a prolonged period, and the red light which is released is a form of chemiluminescence.

Singlet oxygen can participate in Diels-Alder reactions and ene reactions. It can be generated using the sensitizers Rose Bengal or Methylene Blue, or by spontaneous decomposition of hydrogen trioxide in water. It is the active species in photodynamic therapy.

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