Mechanism of the Visible-Light-Promoted C(sp3)-H Oxidation via Uranyl Photocatalysis

Uranyl cation, as an emerging photocatalyst, has been successfully applied to synthetic chemistry in recent years and displayed remarkable catalytic ability under visible light. However, the molecular-level reaction mechanisms of uranyl photocatalysis are unclear. Here, we explore the mechanism of the stepwise benzylic C-H oxygenation of typical alkyl-substituted aromatics (i.e., toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene) via uranyl photocatalysis using theoretical and experimental methods. Theoretical calculation results show that the most favorable reaction path for uranyl photocatalytic oxidation is as follows: first, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the benzyl position to form a carbon radical ([R•]), then oxygen addition ([R•] + O2 → [ROO•]), then radical-radical combination ([ROO•] + [R•] → [ROOR] → 2[RO•]), and eventually [RO•] reduction to produce alcohols, of which 2° alcohol would further be oxidized to ketones and 1° would be stepwise-oxygenated to acids. The results of the designed verification experiments and the capture of reactive intermediates were consistent with those of theoretical calculations and the previously reported research that the active benzylic C-H would be stepwise-oxygenated in the presence of uranyl. This work deepens our understanding of the HAT mechanism of uranyl photocatalysis and provides important theoretical support for the relevant application of uranyl photocatalysts in organic transformation.

Improved Effect of Metal Coordination on Molecular Oxygen Activation for Selective Aerobic Photooxidation

A pyridinium-based complex with environment-friendly and earth-abundant Zn^II ion was synthesized and explored as a green catalyst applied in activating molecular oxygen for the simple and efficient photooxidation of alcohols into aldehydes under additive-free and mild conditions. The metal coordination was conducive to promoting the electron transfer efficiency and introducing the heavy-atom effect for the increased generation of ⋅O₂ ^- and ¹ O₂ . Accordingly, improved photocatalytic performance of this complex compared to its precursor, no matter activity or selectivity, was obtained, facilitating the transformation of alcohols into aldehydes in a sustainable way.

Light-Driven Alcohol Splitting by Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: Recent Advances, Mechanism and Prospects

Splitting of alcohols into hydrogen and corresponding carbonyl compounds, also called acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation, is of great significance for both synthetic chemistry and hydrogen production. Light-Driven Alcohol Splitting (LDAS) by heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising route to achieve such transformations, and it possesses advantages including high selectivity of the carbonyl compounds, extremely mild reaction conditions (room temperature and irradiation of visible light) and easy separation of the photocatalysts from the reaction mixtures. Because a variety of alcohols can be derived from biomass, LDAS can also be regarded as one of the most sustainable approaches for hydrogen production. In this Review, recent advances in the LDAS catalyzed by the heterogeneous photocatalysts are summarized, focusing on the mechanistic insights for the LDAS and aspects that influence the performance of the photocatalysts from viewpoints of metallic co-catalysts, semiconductors, and metal/semiconductor interfaces. In addition, challenges and prospects have been discussed in order to present a complete picture of this field.

Copper(i) pyrimidine-2-thiolate cluster-based polymers as bifunctional visible-light-photocatalysts for chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls

The photoinduced chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyls to allylic alcohols has been accomplished using cluster-based MOFs as bifunctional visible photocatalysts.

Dehydrogenation of alcohols and polyols from a hydrogen production perspective

The production of hydrogen from renewable resources is still a major challenge in our way to reach a foreseen hydrogen economy. Abstracting the hydrogen contained in alcohols by means of acceptorless dehydrogenation reactions has emerged as a viable method with high potential. This is particularly true when applied to bio-based alcohols such as ethanol, glycerol or sugars, whose hydrogen extrusion is covered in this contribution. A general overview of the development of aceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation reactions and its potential implementation into future biorefineries are discussed.

Cyano-decorated ligands: a powerful alternative to fluorination for tuning the photochemical properties of cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes

Two bis-cyclometalated Ir(iii) photocatalysts were synthesized with nitrile moieties which imparted remarkable photophysical properties over conventional fluorinated ligands.

Iridium(III) Bis-Pyridine-2-Sulfonamide Complexes as Efficient and Durable Catalysts for Homogeneous Water Oxidation

A family of tetradentate bis(pyridine-2-sulfonamide) (bpsa) compounds was synthesized as a ligand platform for designing resilient and electronically tunable catalysts capable of performing water oxidation catalysis and other processes in highly oxidizing environments. These wrap-around ligands were coordinated to Ir(III) octahedrally, forming an anionic complex with chloride ions bound to the two remaining coordination sites. NMR spectroscopy documented that the more rigid ligand frameworks-[Ir(bpsa-Cy)Cl2](-) and [Ir(bpsa-Ph)Cl2](-)-produced C1-symmetric complexes, while the complex with the more flexible ethylene linker in [Ir(bpsa-en)Cl2](-) displays C2 symmetry. Their electronic structure was explored with DFT calculations and cyclic voltammetry in nonaqueous environments, which unveiled highly reversible Ir(III)/Ir(IV) redox processes and more complex, irreversible reduction chemistry. Addition of water to the electrolyte revealed the ability of these complexes to catalyze the water oxidation reaction efficiently. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance studies confirmed that a molecular species is responsible for the observed electrocatalytic behavior and ruled out the formation of active IrOx. The electrochemical studies were complemented by work on chemically driven water oxidation, where the catalytic activity of the iridium complexes was studied upon exposure to ceric ammonium nitrate, a strong, one-electron oxidant. Variation of the catalyst concentrations helped to illuminate the kinetics of these water oxidation processes and highlighted the robustness of these systems. Stable performance for over 10 days with thousands of catalyst turnovers was observed with the C1-symmetric catalysts. Dynamic light scattering experiments ascertained that a molecular species is responsible for the catalytic activity and excluded the formation of IrOx particles.

Rational design of carbon support to prepare ultrafine iron oxide catalysts for air oxidation of alcohols

The efficient carbon supports change not only the physical but also the chemical properties of iron oxide and create new active sites for the enhancement of catalytic activity in the oxidation of alcohols with air as an oxygen source.