Using High-Power UV-LED to Accelerate a Decatungstate-Anion-Catalyzed Reaction: A Model Study for the Quick Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol to Benzoic Acid Using Molecular Oxygen

Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT), a compelling and trailblazing catalyst for visible-light-induced organic photocatalysis

Tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) has recently emerged as an intriguing photocatalyst under visible-light or near-visible-light irradiation in a wide range of organic reactions that were previously not conceivable. Given its ability to absorb visible light and excellent effectiveness in activating unactivated chemical bonds, it is a promising addition to traditional photocatalysts. This review covers some of the contemporary developments in visible-light or near-visible-light photocatalysis reactions enabled by the TBADT catalyst to 2023, with the contents organized by reaction type.

Photocatalytic C(sp3)-H thiolation by a double SH2 strategy using thiosulfonates

Site-selective C(sp3)-H thiolation using thiosulfonates has been achieved using the decatungstate anion as a photocatalyst. Using the protocol, a variety of thiolated compounds were synthesized in good yields. The transformation consists of a cascade of double SH2 reactions, HAT and ArS group transfer, and PCET (proton-coupled electron transfer) of the leaving arylsulfonyl radical to arylsulfinic acid thus allowing the catalyst, W10O324-, to be recovered.

High-speed C–H chlorination of ethylene carbonate using a new photoflow setup

We report the high-speed C–H chlorination of ethylene carbonate, which gives chloroethylene carbonate, a precursor to vinylene carbonate. A novel photoflow setup designed for a gas–liquid biphasic reaction turned out to be useful for the direct use of chlorine gas. The setup employed sloped channels so as to make the liquid phase thinner, ensuring a high surface-to-volume ratio. When ethylene carbonate was introduced to the reactor, the residence time was measured to be 15 or 30 s, depending on the slope of the reactor set at 15 or 5°, respectively. Such short time of exposition sufficed the photo C–H chlorination. The partial irradiation of the flow channels also sufficed for the C–H chlorination, which is consistent with the requirement of photoirradiation for the purpose of radical initiation. Near-complete selectivity for single chlorination required the low conversion of ethylene carbonate such as 9%, which was controlled by limited introduction of chlorine gas. At a higher conversion of ethylene carbonate such as 61%, the selectivity for monochlorinated ethylene carbonate over dichlorinated ethylene carbonate was 86%. We found that the substrate contamination with water negatively influenced the performance of the C–H chlorination.