Artificial Photosynthesis of Alcohols by Multi-Functionalized Semiconductor Photocathodes.

Novel artificial photosynthesis systems are devised as cells of dye/Pd/NR-MOx (M=Ti, Zn)∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 that convert efficiently CO2 to alcohols. The photocathodes are aminofunctionalized, palladium-deposited, and in situ sensitized nano-TiO2 or ZnO/FTO (FTO: fluorine-doped tin oxide) electrodes that are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), TEM, XRD, UV/Vis spectra, and evaluated by electrochemical techniques. The cell of dye/Pd/S-TiO2 ∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 uniquely generates ethanol under irradiation of 200 mW cm-2 , reaching 0.56 % quantum efficiency (QE) at -0.56 V and 0.13 % QE without external electron supply. The cell of dye/Pd/ N-ZnO∥CoPi/W:BiVO4 produces solely methanol at a rate of 42.8 µm h-1 cm-2 at -0.56 V of a Si solar cell, which is far less than the electrochemical voltage of water splitting (1.23 V). Its QE reaches to 0.38 %, which is equal to plants. The isotopic labeling experiments confirm the carbon source and oxygen releasing. The selectivity for alcohols of multi-functionalized semiconductors is discussed.

Approach for 2-(arylthio)imidazoles and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles from imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles by ring-opening and -reconstruction.

A highly efficient one-pot synthesis of imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives has been developed and proceeds via a ring-opening and ring-closing reconstruction of imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles with phenylacetylene in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide (t-BuOK) under very mild reaction conditions. A proposed mechanism is calculated computationally using a DFT method at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level. The imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles are also successfully converted to a series of 2-(arylthio)-1H-imidazoles using aryl halide as a reactant and copper(ii) acetylacetonate (Cu(acac)2) as a catalyst under microwave irradiation conditions. The key features of these reactions are the use of readily available reagents, simple operation, the convenient utilization of new heterocyclic synthons, and a great variety of substrates with functional group compatibility.