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Valentini F, Sabuzi F, Forchetta M, Conte V, Galloni P. KuQuinones: a ten years tale of the new pentacyclic quinoid compound. RSC Adv 2023; 13:9065-9077. [PMID: 36950082 PMCID: PMC10025941 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra00539a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Quinones are widespread in nature, as they participate, mainly as redox mediators, in several biochemical processes. Up to now, various synthetic quinones have been recommended in the literature as leading molecules in energy, biomedical and catalytic fields. In this brief review, we retraced our research activity in the last ten years, mainly dedicated to the study of a new class of peculiar pentacyclic conjugated quinoid compounds, synthesized in our group. In particular, their application as sensitive materials in photoelectrochemical devices and in biosensors, as photocatalysts in selective oxidation reactions, and their anticancer activity is here reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Valentini
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata via della ricerca scientifica snc 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Federica Sabuzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata via della ricerca scientifica snc 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Mattia Forchetta
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata via della ricerca scientifica snc 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Valeria Conte
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata via della ricerca scientifica snc 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Pierluca Galloni
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata via della ricerca scientifica snc 00133 Rome Italy
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Montero J, da Silva Freitas W, Mecheri B, Forchetta M, Galloni P, Licoccia S, D'Epifanio A. A Neutral‐pH Aqueous Redox Flow Battery Based on Sustainable Organic Electrolytes. ChemElectroChem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202201002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Montero
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Williane da Silva Freitas
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Barbara Mecheri
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Mattia Forchetta
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Pierluca Galloni
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Silvia Licoccia
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Alessandra D'Epifanio
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies University of Rome Tor Vergata Via della Ricerca Scientifica 00133 Rome Italy
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Forchetta M, Sabuzi F, Stella L, Conte V, Galloni P. KuQuinone as a Highly Stable and Reusable Organic Photocatalyst in Selective Oxidation of Thioethers to Sulfoxides. J Org Chem 2022; 87:14016-14025. [PMID: 36219841 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c01648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A chemoselective photocatalytic system to perform thioether oxidation to sulfoxide is presented. The light-induced oxidation process is here promoted by a metal-free quinoid catalyst, namely 1-hexylKuQuinone (KuQ). Reactions performed in a fluorinated solvent (i.e., HFIP), using O2 as the oxidant, at room temperature, lead to complete thioanisole conversion to methyl phenyl sulfoxide in 60 min. Remarkably, the system can be recharged and recycled without a loss of activity and selectivity, reaching turnover numbers (TONs) higher than 4000. Excellent catalytic performances and full selectivity have also been obtained for the photocatalytic oxidation of substituted thioanisole derivatives, aliphatic, cyclic, and diaryl thioethers. Likewise, the oxidation of heteroaromatic organosulfur compounds can be accomplished, with longer reaction times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Forchetta
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Sabuzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Conte
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluca Galloni
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Volpato GA, Colusso E, Paoloni L, Forchetta M, Sgarbossa F, Cristino V, Lunardon M, Berardi S, Caramori S, Agnoli S, Sabuzi F, Umari P, Martucci A, Galloni P, Sartorel A. Artificial photosynthesis: photoanodes based on polyquinoid dyes onto mesoporous tin oxide surface. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 20:1243-1255. [PMID: 34570354 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-021-00097-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells represent an appealing solution for artificial photosynthesis, aimed at the conversion of solar light into fuels or commodity chemicals. Extensive efforts have been directed towards the development of photoelectrodes combining semiconductor materials and organic dyes; the use of molecular components allows to tune the absorption and redox properties of the material. Recently, we have reported the use of a class of pentacyclic quinoid organic dyes (KuQuinone) chemisorbed onto semiconducting tin oxide as photoanodes for water oxidation. In this work, we investigate the effect of the SnO2 semiconductor thickness and morphology and of the dye-anchoring group on the photoelectrochemical performance of the electrodes. The optimized materials are mesoporous SnO2 layers with 2.5 μm film thickness combined with a KuQuinone dye with a 3-carboxylpropyl-anchoring chain: these electrodes achieve light-harvesting efficiency of 93% at the maximum absorption wavelength of 533 nm, and photocurrent density J up to 350 μA/cm2 in the photoelectrochemical oxidation of ascorbate, although with a limited incident photon-to-current efficiency of 0.075%. Calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) support the role of the reduced species of the KuQuinone dye via a proton-coupled electron transfer as the competent species involved in the electron transfer to the tin oxide semiconductor. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the photoelectrodes towards benzyl alcohol oxidation is presented, achieving photocurrent density up to 90 μA/cm2 in acetonitrile in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide and pyridine as redox mediator and base, respectively. These results support the possibility of using molecular-based materials in synthetic photoelectrochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Alice Volpato
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Colusso
- Department of Industrial Engineering and INSTM, University of Padova, F. Marzolo 9, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Paoloni
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattia Forchetta
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Sgarbossa
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Vito Cristino
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centro Interuniversitario per la Conversione Chimica dell'Energia Solare (SolarChem), Sez. di Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Lunardon
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Berardi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centro Interuniversitario per la Conversione Chimica dell'Energia Solare (SolarChem), Sez. di Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Caramori
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Centro Interuniversitario per la Conversione Chimica dell'Energia Solare (SolarChem), Sez. di Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Agnoli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Sabuzi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Umari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Martucci
- Department of Industrial Engineering and INSTM, University of Padova, F. Marzolo 9, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Pierluca Galloni
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica, snc, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Sartorel
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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A Sustainable Improvement of ω-Bromoalkylphosphonates Synthesis to Access Novel KuQuinones. ORGANICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/org2020010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to the attractiveness of organic phosphonic acids and esters in the pharmacological field and in the functionalization of conductive metal-oxides, the research of effective synthetic protocols is pivotal. Among the others, ω-bromoalkylphosphonates are gaining particular attention because they are useful building blocks for the tailored functionalization of complex organic molecules. Hence, in this work, the optimization of Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction conditions for ω-bromoalkylphosphonates has been performed, to improve process sustainability while maintaining good yields. Synthesized ω-bromoalkylphosphonates have been successfully adopted for the synthesis of new KuQuinone phosphonate esters and, by hydrolysis, phosphonic acid KuQuinone derivatives have been obtained for the first time. Considering the high affinity with metal-oxides, KuQuinones bearing phosphonic acid terminal groups are promising candidates for biomedical and photo(electro)chemical applications.
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