Pyrimidopteridine N-Oxide Organic Photoredox Catalysts: Characterization, Application and Non-Covalent Interaction in Solid State.

Herein we report the photo- and electrochemical characterization of pyrimidopteridine N-oxide-based heterocycles. The potential of their application as organic photoredox catalysts is showcased in the photomediated contra-thermodynamic E→Z isomerization of cinnamic acid derivatives and oxidative cyclization of 2-phenyl benzoic acid to benzocoumarin using molecular oxygen as a mild oxidant. Furthermore, unprecedented intermolecular non-covalent n-π-hole interactions in solid state are discussed based on crystallographic and theoretical data.

Effects of Imidazole-Type Ligands in CuI/TEMPO-Mediated Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation.

Selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by a (bpy)CuI(IM)/TEMPO catalyst (IM represents differently substituted imidazoles) has been studied by simultaneous operando electron paramagnetic resonance/UV-vis/attentuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy in combination with cyclic voltammetry to explore the particular role of imidazole in terms of ligand and/or base as well as of its substitution pattern on the catalytic performance. For molar ratios of IM/Cu ≥ 2, a (bpy)CuI/II(IM)a(IM)b complex is formed, in which the Cu-N distances and/or angles for the two IM ligands a and b are different. The coordination of a second IM molecule boosts the oxidation of CuI to CuII and, thus, helps to activate O2 by electron transfer from CuI to O2. The rates of CuI oxidation and CuII reduction and, thus, the rates of benzaldehyde formation depend on R of the R-N moiety in the IM ligand. Oxidation is fastest for R = H and alkyl, while reduction is slowest for R = H. The CuI/CuII interplay leads to decreasing total benzaldehyde formation rates in the order R (I+ effect) > R (conjugated system) > R = H.

Straightforward synthesis of tetraalkynylpyrazines and their photophysical properties.

Tetrafold Sonogashira reactions of tetrachloropyrazine were investigated to provide a one-step synthesis of various tetraalkynylpyrazines. The reaction conditions were thoroughly optimized using modern catalysts and ligands, and products were generally isolated in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, photophysical and electrochemical properties of selected compounds were studied and compared with those of previously reported tetraalkynylpyridines and benzenes. As a matter of fact, tetraalkynylpyrazines proved to show very promising fluorescence properties due to very high quantum yields reaching up to 0.85.

Electron- and Energy-Transfer Processes in a Photocatalytic System Based on an Ir(III)-Photosensitizer and an Iron Catalyst.

The reaction pathways of bis-(2-phenylpyridinato-)(2,2'-bipyridine)iridium(III)hexafluorophosphate [Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]PF6 within a photocatalytic water reduction system for hydrogen generation based on an iron-catalyst were investigated by employing time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory. Electron transfer (ET) from the sacrificial reagent to the photoexcited Ir complex has a surprisingly low probability of 0.4% per collision. Hence, this step limits the efficiency of the overall system. The calculations show that ET takes place only for specific encounter geometries. At the same time, the presence of the iron-catalyst represents an energy loss channel due to a triplet-triplet energy transfer of Dexter type. This loss channel is kept small by the employed concentration ratios, thus favoring the reductive ET necessary for the water reduction. The elucidated reaction mechanisms underline the further need to improve the sun light's energy pathway to the catalyst to increase the efficiency of the photocatalytic system.

Direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized in a chitosan-[C4mim][BF4] film: determination of electrode kinetic parameters.

The direct electrochemistry of a HRP-chi-[C(4)mim][BF(4)] film (where HRP = horseradish peroxidase, chi = chitosan, and [C(4)mim][BF(4)] = the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) has been studied by cyclic voltammetry on a glassy carbon electrode. The mechanism for the electrochemical reaction of HRP is suggested to be EC for the reduction, and CE for the following re-oxidation, as the oxidative peak potential remained approximately unchanged across the scan rate range. The half wave potential of HRP reduction was found to be pH dependent, suggesting that a concomitant proton and electron transfer is occurring. Using theoretical simulations of the experimentally obtained peak positions, the standard electron transfer rate constant, k(0), was found to be 98 (+/-16) s(-1) at 295 K in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution, which is very close to the value reported in the absence of ionic liquid. This suggests that the ionic liquid used here in the HRP-chi-[C(4)mim][BF(4)]/GC electrode does not enhance the rate of electron transfer. k(0) was found to increase systematically with increasing temperature and followed a linear Arrhenius relation, giving an activation energy of 14.20 kJ mol(-1). The electrode kinetics and activation energies obtained are identical to those reported for HRP films in aqueous media. This leads us to question if the use of RTIL films provide any unique benefits for enzyme/protein voltammetry. Rather the films may likely contain aqueous zones in which the enzymes are located and undergo electron transfer.