Work

A Synthetic Method to Hydrogen Radicals

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Atomic hydrogen (H•), the union of an electron and a proton, is the smallest radical of the universe. Over the past century, advanced techniques such as electric discharge and mercury UV sensitization enabled a fundamental understanding of the reactivity of H• but fell short of providing synthetic methods to exploit its intriguing properties. Here we report a light-mediated method to access hydrogen radicals under synthetically useful conditions. This strategy enabled the mild, metal-free reduction of highly functionalized alkenes and halides. Mechanistic, EPR, and DFT studies suggest hydrogen radical generation via a Rydberg radical intermediate, with potential applications across the chemical and biological sciences.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c07870

Authors: Nils J. Flodén, Alberto Collauto, Peter H. Seeberger, Roopender Kumar

Institutions: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Imperial College London, Freie Universität Berlin, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Radical Photochemical Reactions

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500