Photoinduced symmetry-breaking charge separation.

Molecular systems where several apparently equivalent charge separation pathways exist upon photoexcitation are presented. They encompass MQ(n) (n≥2) architectures, where M is a chromophore and Q an electron transfer quencher (either donor or acceptor), and M-M systems where M acts as both electron donor and acceptor. In all cases, charge separation involves symmetry breaking. The conditions for such process to be operative as well as the origin of the symmetry breaking are discussed.