Systematic approach to exclusive B → Vl+l-, Vγ decays

We show - by explicit computation of first-order corrections - that the QCD factorization approach previously applied to hadronic two-body decays and to form factor ratios also allows us to compute non-factorizable corrections to exclusive, radiative B meson decays in the heavy quark mass limit. This removes a major part of the theoretical uncertainty in the region of small invariant mass of the photon. We discuss in particular the decays B --> K*gamma and B --> K*l(+)l(-) and complete the calculation of corrections to the forward-backward asymmetry zero. The new correction shifts the asymmetry zero by 30%, but the result confirms our previous conclusion that the asymmetry zero provides a clean phenomenological determination of the Wilson coefficient C-9. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.