Photocatalysis articles from across Nature Portfolio

Mechanoluminescence allows controlled generation and synthetic exploitation of organic radicals in milled bulk solids.

The synthesis of rigid C(sp³)-rich isosteric mimics of heteroaromatic rings has proved a significant challenge, but is of importance in drug discovery. Now, two studies report the synthesis of densely functionalized azetidines and bicycloalkanes, using a similar concept of breaking planarity.

Visible-light-catalysed rearrangements can often offer unconventional and practical ways to achieve useful molecular connectivity. Here, the authors present N-to-C aryl migrations of N-arylpropiolamides under photocatalytic conditions, promoted by CO2.

Photothermal catalysis has emerged as a promising strategy to combine the advantages of single thermal catalysis with that of photocatalysis. Herein, the authors report the protolignin direct conversion to aromatics via the photothermal catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis process intensified by the in-situ protection strategy.

Residual industrial heat could be harnessed as an energy source for CO₂ conversion. Here the authors present a method for storing electrons and hydrogen in catalysts using light and water, which are then released upon heating to enable CO₂ reduction with intermittent sunlight and residual heat.

Photocatalysis at 40–60 °C is shown to be able to defluorinate perfluoroalkyl substances, known as ‘forever chemicals’, allowing the recycling of fluorine in polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances as inorganic fluoride salt.

Understanding precise structures of two-/three- dimensional covalent organic polymers through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis is interesting however, to grow high-quality single crystals of these materials is challenging. Here, the authors incorporate tellurium into the backbones covalent organic polymers as a concise and fast method to grow large single crystals.

Mechanoluminescence allows controlled generation and synthetic exploitation of organic radicals in milled bulk solids.

The synthesis of rigid C(sp³)-rich isosteric mimics of heteroaromatic rings has proved a significant challenge, but is of importance in drug discovery. Now, two studies report the synthesis of densely functionalized azetidines and bicycloalkanes, using a similar concept of breaking planarity.

Two catalysts working together under light irradiation selectively dehydrogenate proteinogenic amino acids to yield intermediates that can be diversified into non-canonical amino acids.

Site-selective C–H bond functionalization of silanes is challenging because of the presence of multiple C–H bonds. Now, a photocatalytic method for the radical β-C(sp³)–H functionalization of silanes using the β-silicon effect is developed, enabling the aminoalkylation, alkylation and arylation of simple silanes to prepare more complex organosilicon compounds.

Adam Noble discusses the diverse uses of eosin Y over its 150-year history, from its origin as a dye and pigment used by post-impressionist masters to its versatile reactivity as a catalyst in visible light photochemistry.