Open AccessPhotocatalytic alkoxylation of benzene with 3-cyano-1-methylquinolinium ion
Author(s) -
Kei Ohkubo,
Takaki Kobayashi,
Shunichi Fukuzumi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.00a360
Subject(s) - photochemistry , benzene , flash photolysis , photocatalysis , acetonitrile , electron transfer , chemistry , singlet state , ion , quantum yield , excited state , radical ion , materials science , organic chemistry , fluorescence , catalysis , reaction rate constant , kinetics , optics , physics , quantum mechanics , nuclear physics
One-pot alkoxylation of benzene with alcohols occurs under photoirradiation of 3-cyano-1-methylquinolinium ion in an oxygen-saturated acetonitrile solution containing benzene and alcohols. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism was clarified by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The photocataytic alkoxylation of benzene is initiated by photoinduced electron transfer from benzene to the singlet excited state of 3-cyano-1-methylquinolinium ion, followed by the nucleophilic addition of alcohols to benzene radical cation. In the case of photoethoxylation, the optimal product and quantum yields of ethoxybenzene were 20% and 10%, respectively.