Abstract: A new approach was designed to prepare both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers by organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP). The method is based on using a recoverable photocatalyst whose properties can be switched using only CO2 addition and removal as triggers. The effectiveness of the CO2-switching approach in O-ATRP is demonstrated using a new…
It is highly desirable to discover molecular catalysts with controlled selectivity for visible-light-driven CO2reduction to fuels. In the design of catalysts employing earth-abundant metals, progress has been made for CO production, but formate generation has been observed more rarely. Here, we report a binuclear Co complex bearing a bi-quaterpyridine ligand that can selectively reduce CO2to…
Abstract: Fluorinated organic molecules are pervasive within the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries due to the range of structural and physicochemical properties that fluorine imparts. Currently, the most abundant methods for the synthesis of the aryl–CF2functionality have relied on the deoxyfluorination of ketones and aldehydes using expensive and poorly atom economical reagents. Here, we report a…
Abstract: Although radical polymerizations are among the most prevalent methodologies for the synthesis of polymers with diverse compositions and properties, the intrinsic reactivity and selectivity of radical addition challenge the ability to impart control over the polymerization propagation and produce polymers with defined microstructure. Vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) can be polymerized through radical ring-opening polymerization to produce…
Abstract: Modular chromophoric systems with minimal electronic coupling between donor and acceptor moieties are well suited for establishing predictive relationships between molecular structure and excited-state properties. Here, we investigate the impact of naphthyl-based connectivity on the photophysics of phenoxazine-derived orthogonal donor–acceptor complexes. While compounds in this class are themselves interesting as potent organic photocatalysts useful…
Abstract: The application of photoredox catalysis to atomtransfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has resulted in the development of strongly reducing organic photoredox catalysts (PCs) that are some of the most reducing catalysts known. The objectives of this review are to highlight these PCs with regard to their development and applications in polymer and organic synthesis, as…
Abstract: Photoinduced organocatalyzed atom-transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is a controlled radical polymerization methodology that can be mediated by organic photoredox catalysts under the influence of light. However, typical O-ATRP systems require relatively high catalyst loadings (1000 ppm) to achieve control over the polymerization. Here, new core-extended diaryl dihydrophenazine photoredox catalysts were developed for O-ATRP and…
Abstract: Using a phenoxazine-based organic photosensitizer and an iron porphyrin molecular catalyst, we demonstrated photochemical reduction of CO2 to CO and CH4 with turnover numbers (TONs) of 149 and 29, respectively, under visible-light irradiation (λ > 435 nm) with a tertiary amine as sacrificial electron donor. This work is the first example of a molecular…
Abstract: The first example for the photocatalytic generation of a highly electrophilic intermediate that is not based on radical reactivity is reported. The single‐electron reduction of bench‐stable and commercially available 4‐(trifluoromethoxy)benzonitrile by an organic photosensitizer leads to its fragmentation into fluorophosgene and benzonitrile. The in situ generated fluorophosgene was used for the preparation of carbonates,…
Abstract: A signature of photo‐mediated controlled polymerizations is the ability to modulate the rate of polymerization by turning the light source ‘on’ and ‘off.’ However, in many reported systems, growth can be reproducibly observed during dark periods. In this study, emerging photo‐mediated controlled radical polymerizations are evaluated with in situ 1H NMR monitoring to assess…