Red-light-activatable ruthenium phthalocyanine catalysts

Abstract

Phthalocyanine ruthenium complexes were identified as red-light activatable catalysts for trifluoromethylation reactions. The red-light mediated chlorotrifluoromethylation of alkenes could proceed without any sacrificial reducing reagents. This reaction exhibited good compatibility with a blue-light-absorbing substrate, while under irradiation with blue light, <i>i.e.</i>, under traditional photoreaction conditions, this substrate decomposed completely.