Solar-powered electrochemistry reduces reagent waste in synthetic organic reactions

30-Oct-2013 - USA

Scientists in the United States have combined electrochemistry with synthetic organic chemistry to perform chemical oxidations that consume only sunlight and produce only hydrogen as a reduction product to reduce reagent waste.

The researchers connected a photovoltaic cell to the reaction flask, which, on exposure to sunlight, passes a constant stream of electricity through the system. The electricity enables a chemical oxidant to serve as a mediator for the reaction that is then regenerated at the anode.

The team tested seven different reactions using the photovoltaic system, including an asymmetric oxidation reaction, and achieved yields that were almost the same as traditional methods.

Kevin Moeller, who led the research at Washington University in St Louis, said: “Too few organic chemists utilise synthetic chemistry as synthetic tool in spite of its potential advantages. We wanted to show just how easy it was to carry out reactions in this manner.”