Visible Light-Promoted Goldberg Reaction Driven by a Preponderant Facet of CuO Nanocrystals

Abstract

A visible light-promoted Goldberg reaction driven by a preponderant facet of CuO nanocrystals has been developed, making aryl halides even with electron-donating groups feasible. The mechanism investigations showed that this transformation’s absorption energy and reaction heat decreased obviously on the surface of CuO nanocrystals for the substantial influence of facet and morphology. Also, the CuO nanoplate showed higher oxidizability than other morphologies. The visible light-excited eosin Y modulated the preferred oxidation states of the CuO nanoplate in an operative catalytic cycle via single-electron transfer. Based on this synergistic effect of photoredox and CuO nanocrystal catalysis, the visible light-enabled Goldberg couplings were eventually completed. Furthermore, several pharmaceutical and agrochemical molecules were synthesized by using this method. This work reveals the high reactivity and unique advantages of nanoscale copper(II) oxide materials in photoredox catalysis for organic synthesis.