Work

Heterogeneous photocatalysis of azides: extending nitrene photochemistry to longer wavelengths

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: The photodecomposition of azides to generate nitrenes usually requires wavelengths in the <300 nm region. In this study, we show that this reaction can be readily performed in the UVA region (368 nm) when catalyzed by Pd-decorated TiO2. In aqueous medium the reaction leads to amines, with water acting as the H source; however, in non-protic and non-nucleophilic media, such as acetonitrile, nitrenes recombine to yield azo compounds, while azirine-mediated trapping occurs in the presence of nucleophiles. The heterogeneous process facilitates catalyst separation while showing great chemoselectivity and high yields.

Source: Chemical Communications

DOI: 10.1039/d0cc04118a

Authors: Ignacio D. Lemir, Juan E. Argüello, Anabel E. Lanterna, Juan C. Scaiano

Institutions: University of Ottawa, Marie Curie, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Language: English

Topic: Chemical Reactions and Mechanisms

Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: International Development Research Centre, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canada Research Chairs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Award: G1965961294