RESUMO
π-π stacking and ion-pairing interactions induced the generation of α-amino radicals under the irradiation of visible light without the requirement of an expensive photocatalyst. This strategy enabled the construction of functionalized amines via three-component coupling reactions with broad scope (we report >50 examples with an up to 90 % yield). This synthetic pathway also delivered complex functionalized amines with a very high yield. Quantum chemistry Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations identified π-π stacked ionic complexes; time-dependent DFT was employed to simulate the absorption spectra, and nudged elastic band (NEB) methodology provided a possible interaction/reaction picture of the selected species.
RESUMO
The development of smart and sustainable photocatalysts is in high priority for the synthesis of H2O2 because the global demand for H2O2 is sharply rising. Currently, the global market share for H2O2 is around 4 billion US$ and is expected to grow by about 5.2 billion US$ by 2026. Traditional synthesis of H2O2 via the anthraquinone method is associated with the generation of substantial chemical waste as well as the requirement of a high energy input. In this respect, the oxidative transformation of pure water is a sustainable solution to meet the global demand. In fact, several photocatalysts have been developed to achieve this chemistry. However, 97% of the water on our planet is seawater, and it contains 3.0-5.0% of salts. The presence of salts in water deactivates the existing photocatalysts, and therefore, the existing photocatalysts have rarely shown reactivity toward seawater. Considering this, a sustainable heterogeneous photocatalyst, derived from hydrolysis lignin, has been developed, showing an excellent reactivity toward generating H2O2 directly from seawater under air. In fact, in the presence of this catalyst, we have been able to achieve 4085 µM of H2O2. Expediently, the catalyst has shown longer durability and can be recycled more than five times to generate H2O2 from seawater. Finally, full characterizations of this smart photocatalyst and a detailed mechanism have been proposed on the basis of the experimental evidence and multiscale/level calculations.
RESUMO
Single enantiomers of R/S-methylbenzylamine (MBA) were found to selectively form adducts with two chiral Cu-salen complexes, [Cu(II)(1)] (H(2)1 = N,N'-bis(3,5-ditert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) and [Cu(II)(2)] (H(2)2 = N,N'-bis-salicylidene-1,2-cyclohexanediamino). The axial g/A spin Hamiltonian parameters of the Cu-MBA adducts were typical of 5-coordinate species. Enantiomer discrimination in the MBA binding was directly evidenced by W-band CW EPR, revealing an 86 ± 5% preference for formation of the R,R-[Cu(1)] + S-MBA adducts compared to R,R-[Cu(1)] + R-MBA; this was reduced to a 57 ± 5% preference for R,R-[Cu(2)] + S-MBA following removal of the tert-butyl groups. The structure of these diastereomeric adducts was further probed by different hyperfine techniques (ENDOR and HYSCORE), although no structural differences were detected between these adducts using these techniques. The diastereomeric adducts were found to possess lower symmetry, as evidenced by rhombic g tensors and inequivalent H(imine) couplings. This was caused by the selective binding mode of MBA onto one side of the chiral Cu(II) complex. DFT calculations were performed on the R,R-[Cu(1)] + S-MBA and R,R-[Cu(1)] + R-MBA adducts. A distinct difference in orientation and binding mode of the MBA was identified in both adducts, confirming the experimental results. The preferred heterochiral R,R-[Cu(1)] + S-MBA adduct was found to be 5 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy compared to the homochiral adduct. A delicate balance of steric repulsion between the α-proton (attached to the asymmetric carbon atom) of MBA and the methine proton (attached to the asymmetric carbon atom) of [Cu(1)] was crucial in the stereoselective binding.
