Catalyst Luminescence Exploited as an Inherent In Situ Probe of Photoredox Catalysis

Abstract

The luminescence of commonly used photoredox catalysts offers a continuous inherent in situ probe of electron or energy transfer that can be monitored by photodetectors such as a CCD spectrometer or a digital camera. This approach was applied with complementary ex situ experiments to examine the aerobic oxidation of anthracene with tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) as the catalyst. The reaction results in the precipitation of an isometrically pure syn-tetraepoxide not seen in prior studies when an organic photocatalyst was employed. Changes in the emission were observed not only upon electron/energy transfer quenching of the catalyst but also from the presence of particles (undissolved subs..