Solar Photochemical Synthesis: From the Beginnings of Organic Photochemistry to the Solar Manufacturing of Commodity Chemicals

Solar Photochemistry in Flow

In recent years, photochemistry has been a highly active research field. This renaissance is linked to the upsurge of photoredox catalysis, a versatile platform for synthetic methodologies using visible light photons as a traceless reagent. In contrast with UV, visible light constitutes almost half of the ground solar irradiance, making the use of solar light in chemistry a sustainable and viable possibility. However, the direct use of sunlight to power chemical reactions is still little explored. This can be explained by both the hurdles associated with solar radiation (e.g., its variability, irreproducibility, high IR content, etc.) and the need for a specialized photoreactor. Most of these issues can be tackled with technological solutions, and especially with the recourse to flow chemistry. Flow chemistry goes hand in hand with photochemistry thanks to the uniform irradiation it provides to the reaction. Furthermore, a continuous-flow reactor can be easily integrated with different solar collectors (including compound parabolic concentrators and luminescent solar concentrators) and constitutes the most efficient approach to solar photochemistry. After a description of the characteristics of the solar radiation relevant to chemistry, this chapter critically describes the different type of solar photoreactors and their applications in synthetic organic chemistry. Finally, an outlook on the future of solar photochemistry in flow is included.

The photodecarboxylative addition of carboxylates to phthalimides as a key-step in the synthesis of biologically active 3-arylmethylene-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones

The synthesis of various 3-arylmethylene-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones was realized following a simple three-step process. The protocol utilized the photodecarboxylative addition of readily available carboxylates to N-(bromoalkyl)phthalimides as a versatile and efficient key step. The initially obtained hydroxyphthalimidines were readily converted to the desired N-diaminoalkylated 3-arylmethylene-2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindolin-1-ones via acid-catalyzed dehydration and subsequent nucleophilic substitution with the corresponding secondary amines. The procedure was successfully applied to the synthesis of known local anesthetics (AL-12, AL-12B and AL-5) in their neutral forms.

Scale-up of a Luminescent Solar Concentrator-Based Photomicroreactor via Numbering-up

The use of solar energy to power chemical reactions is a long-standing dream of the chemical community. Recently, visible-light-mediated photoredox catalysis has been recognized as the ideal catalytic transformation to convert solar energy into chemical bonds. However, scaling photochemical transformations has been extremely challenging due to Bouguer-Lambert-Beer law. Recently, we have pioneered the development of luminescent solar concentrator photomicroreactors (LSC-PMs), which display an excellent energy efficiency. These devices harvest solar energy, convert the broad solar energy spectrum to a narrow-wavelength region, and subsequently waveguide the re-emitted photons to the reaction channels. Herein, we report on the scalability of such LSC-PMs via a numbering-up strategy. Paramount in our work was the use of molds that were fabricated via 3D printing. This allowed us to rapidly produce many different prototypes and to optimize experimentally key design aspects in a time-efficient fashion. Reactors up to 32 parallel channels have been fabricated that display an excellent flow distribution using a bifurcated flow distributor (standard deviations below 10%). This excellent flow distribution was crucial to scale up a model reaction efficiently, displaying yields comparable to those obtained in a single-channel device. We also found that interchannel spacing is an important and unique design parameter for numbered-up LSC-PMs, which influences greatly the photon flux experienced within the reaction channels.

Recent Advances in Photodecarboxylations Involving Phthalimides

Owing to their favourable photophysical and electrochemical properties, phthalimides undergo a variety of highly efficient photodecarboxylation reactions. These transformations have been applied to the synthesis of macrocyclic compounds as well as bioactive addition adducts. N-Acetoxyphthalimides are versatile precursors to imidyl and alkyl radicals through photodecarboxylation and have subsequently been used for a variety of coupling reactions. The generally mild reaction conditions make these reactions attractive for green chemical applications. The process protocols were successfully transferred to novel photoreactor devices, among these falling film or continuous flow reactors.

Photoredox Catalysis Induced Bisindolylation of Ethers/Alcohols via Sequential C-H and C-O Bond Cleavage

A visible-light-engaged 2-fold site-selective alkylation of indole derivatives with aliphatic ethers or alcohols has been accomplished for easy access to symmetric 3,3'-bisindolylmethane derivatives. The experimental data suggest a sequential photoredox catalysis induced radical addition and proton-mediated Friedel-Crafts alkylation mechanism.

Advanced Photonic Processes for Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Systems

Solar-energy harvesting through photovoltaic (PV) conversion is the most promising technology for long-term renewable energy production. At the same time, significant progress has been made in the development of energy-storage (ES) systems, which are essential components within the cycle of energy generation, transmission, and usage. Toward commercial applications, the enhancement of the performance and competitiveness of PV and ES systems requires the adoption of precise, but simple and low-cost manufacturing solutions, compatible with large-scale and high-throughput production lines. Photonic processes enable cost-efficient, noncontact, highly precise, and selective engineering of materials via photothermal, photochemical, or photophysical routes. Laser-based processes, in particular, provide access to a plethora of processing parameters that can be tuned with a remarkably high degree of precision to enable innovative processing routes that cannot be attained by conventional approaches. The focus here is on the application of advanced light-driven approaches for the fabrication, as well as the synthesis, of materials and components relevant to PV and ES systems. Besides presenting recent advances on recent achievements, the existing limitations are outlined and future possibilities and emerging prospects discussed.

Enhanced Photophosphorylation of a Chloroplast-Entrapping Long-Lived Photoacid

Enhancing solar energy conversion efficiency is very important for developing renewable energy, protecting the environment, and producing agricultural products. Efficient enhancement of photophosphorylation is demonstrated by coupling artificial photoacid generators (PAGs) with chloroplasts. The encapsulation of small molecular long-lived PAGs in the thylakoid lumen is improved greatly by ultrasonication. Under visible-light irradiation, a fast intramolecular photoreaction of the PAG occurs and produces many protons, remarkably enhancing the proton gradient in situ. Consequently, compared to pure chloroplasts, the assembled natural-artificial hybrid demonstrates approximately 3.9 times greater adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. This work will provide new opportunities for constructing enhanced solar energy conversion systems.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to Flow Chemistry ∥

Flow chemistry involves the use of channels or tubing to conduct a reaction in a continuous stream rather than in a flask. Flow equipment provides chemists with unique control over reaction parameters enhancing reactivity or in some cases enabling new reactions. This relatively young technology has received a remarkable amount of attention in the past decade with many reports on what can be done in flow. Until recently, however, the question, "Should we do this in flow?" has merely been an afterthought. This review introduces readers to the basic principles and fundamentals of flow chemistry and critically discusses recent flow chemistry accounts.

Photoinduced difunctionalization of 2,3-dihydrofuran for the efficient synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans

An efficient photoinduced multicomponent difunctionalization of 2,3-dihydrofuran has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans under mild reaction conditions.

Every photon counts: understanding and optimizing photon paths in luminescent solar concentrator-based photomicroreactors (LSC-PMs)

Monte Carlo simulation of Luminescent Solar Concentrator-based Photomicroreactors (LSC-PM) shows how embedding an absorber (i.e. the reaction channels) within the lightguide can significantly improve the energy efficiency of traditional LSCs on large scale applications.

Improving photocatalytic oxygenation mediated by polymer supported photosensitizers using semiconductor quantum dots as ‘light antennas’

Semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots) sensitize the photochemical generation of singlet oxygen at the surface of a photoactive polymer.

Harnessing sunlight without a photosensitizer for highly efficient consecutive [3+2]/[4+2] annulation to synthesize fused benzobicyclic skeletons

A photosensitizer-free, highly efficient sunlight-promoted tandem [3+2]/[4+2] annulation of unsaturated α-bromocarbonyls with o-alkynylanilines was described, and allowed for convenient synthesis of fused benzobicyclic skeletons.

Sunlight assisted direct amide formation via a charge-transfer complex

We report on the use of charge-transfer complexes between amines and carbon tetrachloride, as a novel way to activate the amine for photochemical reactions.

Decatungstate Anion for Photocatalyzed "Window Ledge" Reactions

The majority of organic reactions are commonly carried out inside a lab, under a fume hood. A particular case is that of photochemical reactions, a field where the pioneering experiments by Giacomo Ciamician demonstrated more than one century ago that different processes can be carried out outdoors, for example, on the balcony of his own department, upon exposure of the reacting mixtures to sunlight. The main problem related to this chemistry of the "window ledge" is that most organic compounds are colorless and their absorption in the solar light region is in most cases negligible. Recently, the impressive development in the use of visible light absorbing photocatalysts (e.g., Ru^II or Ir^III complexes, as well as organic dyes) made light-induced processes convenient even for non-photochemistry practitioners. It is thus possible to easily perform the reactions by simply placing the reaction vessel in a sunny place outside the lab. However, most of these processes are based on single electron transfer (SET) reactions (photoredox catalysis). Other photocatalysts able to activate substrates via alternative paths, such as hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), are emerging. In the last years, we were deeply involved in the use of the decatungstate anion ([W₁₀O₃₂]^4-, a polyoxometalate) in synthesis. Indeed, such a versatile species is able to promote the photocatalytic C-H activation of organic compounds via either SET or HAT reactions. Interestingly, though the absorption spectrum of [W₁₀O₃₂]^4- does not extend into the visible region, it shows an overlap with solar light emission. In this Account, we provide an overview on the application of decatungstate salts as photocatalysts in window ledge chemistry. We initially discuss the nature of the photogenerated species involved in the mechanism of action of the anion, also supported by theoretical simulations. The first-formed excited state of the decatungstate anion decays rapidly to the active species, a dark state tagged wO, featuring the presence of electron-deficient oxygen centers. Next, we describe the main applications of decatungstate chemistry. A significant part of this Account is devoted to photocatalyzed synthesis (C-X bond formation, with X = C, N, O, and oxidations) carried out by adopting sunlight (or simulated solar light). This synthetic approach is versatile, and most of the reactions involved C-H activation in cycloalkanes, alkylaromatics, amides, ethers (1,4-dioxane, oxetane, benzodioxole, and THF), aldehydes, nitriles, and cyclopentanones, and the ensuing addition of the resulting radicals onto electron-deficient olefins. Finally, the increasing role of the decatungstate anion in water depollution and polymerization is briefly discussed.

Studies in organic and physical photochemistry - an interdisciplinary approach

Traditionally, organic photochemistry when applied to synthesis strongly interacts with physical chemistry. The aim of this review is to illustrate this very fruitful interdisciplinary approach and cooperation. A profound understanding of the photochemical reactivity and reaction mechanisms is particularly helpful for optimization and application of these reactions. Some typical reactions and particular aspects are reported such as the Norrish-Type II reaction and the Yang cyclization and related transformations, the [2 + 2] photocycloadditions, particularly the Paternò-Büchi reaction, photochemical electron transfer induced transformations, different kinds of catalytic reactions such as photoredox catalysis for organic synthesis and photooxygenation are discussed. Particular aspects such as the structure and reactivity of aryl cations, photochemical reactions in the crystalline state, chiral memory, different mechanisms of hydrogen transfer in photochemical reactions or fundamental aspects of stereoselectivity are discussed. Photochemical reactions are also investigated in the context of chemical engineering. Particularly, continuous flow reactors are of interest. Novel reactor systems are developed and modeling of photochemical transformations and different reactors play a key role in such studies. This research domain builds a bridge between fundamental studies of organic photochemical reactions and their industrial application.