Visible Light-Driven Atom Transfer Radical Addition to Olefins using Bi2O3 as Photocatalyst

• Published in: ChemSusChem Vol. 8; no. 11; pp. 1841 - 1844
• Main Authors: Riente, Paola, Pericàs, Miquel A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 08-06-2015; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: addition reactions; Alkenes; bismuth oxide; Bismuth oxides; Bismuth trioxide; photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; radical reactions; Radicals; visible light
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201403466

Bismuth oxide, an inexpensive and non‐toxic semiconductor, has been successfully used as a visible light photocatalyst for the atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reaction of organobromides to diversely functionalized terminal olefins. The reaction takes place under very mild conditions, in the absence of any additive, and with low catalyst loading (1 mol %). The corresponding ATRA products are obtained with moderate to excellent yields (up to 95 %).
Let the sunshine in: Bismuth oxide, an inexpensive and non‐toxic semiconductor, efficiently converts sunlight into chemical energy. The atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) of organobromides to terminal olefins is efficiently promoted by Bi2O3 (1 mol %) under the influence of actual or simulated sunlight.