Femtodynamics reflected in nanoseconds: bimolecular free electron transfer in nonpolar media.

The (free) electron transfer (FET) from electron donor molecules to parent solvent radical cations of alkanes and alkyl chlorides exhibits mechanistic peculiarities that are conditioned by the low polarity of these solvents. Because of the negligible solvation of ions in such systems and the almost complete lack of an activation barrier, the electron jump takes place at the very first encounter of the reactants and, as such, in extremely short times of