Acridone Derivatives for Near-UV Radical Polymerization: One-Component Type II vs. Multicomponent Behaviors

In this work, two novel acridone-based photoinitiators were designed and synthesized for the free radical polymerization of acrylates with a light-emitting diode emitting at 405 nm. These acridone derivatives were employed as mono-component Type II photoinitiators and as multicomponent photoinitiating systems in the presence of an iodonium salt or an amine synergist (EDB) in which they achieved excellent polymerization initiating abilities and high final conversions of the acrylate group. Photoinitiation mechanisms through which reactive species are produced were investigated employing different complementary techniques including steady-state photolysis, steady-state fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Finally, these molecules were also used in the direct laser writing process for the fabrication of 3D objects.

Photochemical acridone-mediated direct arylation of (hetero)arenes with aryl diazonium salts

A metal-free photochemical C-H direct arylation using acridone as a photoredox catalyst to facilitate the reaction is described. Diazonium salts as precursors for aryl radicals, demonstrated by a fluorescence quenching experiment and free radical trapping experiment, allow the functionalization of (hetero)arenes under mild conditions. A series of valuable substituted biaryl and aryl-heteroaryl compounds were prepared in moderate to good yields via the coupling. Moreover, this methodology is shown to be applicable to scale-up synthesis.

Regioselective and Diastereoselective Halofunctionalization of Alkenes Promoted by Organophotocatalytic Solar Catalysis

A visible-light metal-free photocatalytic regioselective and enantioselective alkene halofunctionalization reaction under mild conditions is reported. Various terminal and internal alkenes were transformed to their α-halogenated and α,β-dibrominated derivatives in good to excellent yields within reaction time as short as 5 min. Water can be used as the "green" nucleophile and solvent in the halohydroxylation and halo-oxidation reactions. Different types of products can be obtained by adjusting the reaction conditions. In addition, sunlight is proved to produce products with similar yields, representing a practical example of solar synthesis and providing an opportunity for solar energy utilization.