A Challenge

The present contribution overviews several aspects of my groups’ involvement in the field of mediated electron transfer. From the laboratories of its pioneers to the present day, the field maintains a position of interest and fundamental importance, and is now widely accepted and utilized. I begin with a brief review of the basics where we will: differentiate mediated and direct electrolysis; highlight similarities between it and sensitized photolyses; explore the steps/stages associated with a mediated process focusing particularly upon the kinetics and thermodynamics of the electron transfer step; describe how to overcome the thermodynamic impasse that frequently accompanies electron transfer.