Abstract: A key feature of prominent transition-metal-containing photoredox catalysts (PCs) is high quantum yield access to long-lived excited states characterized by a change in spin multiplicity. For organic PCs, challenges emerge for promoting excited-state intersystem crossing (ISC), particularly when potent excited-state reductants are desired. Herein, we report a design exploiting orthogonal π-systems and an intermediate-energy charge-transfer excited state to maximize ISC yields (ΦISC) in a highly reducing (E0* = −1.7 V vs SCE), visible-light-absorbing phenoxazine-based PC. Simple substitution of N-phenyl for N-naphthyl is shown to dramatically increase ΦISC from 0.11 to 0.91 without altering catalytically important properties, such as E0*.
Reference: Sartor, S. M.; McCarthy, B. G.; Pearson, R. M.; Miyake, G. M.; Damrauer, N. H., Exploiting Charge-Transfer States for Maximizing Intersystem Crossing Yields in Organic Photoredox Catalysts. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 4778. Link
Publication date: March 29, 2018
