Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation

ABSTRACT The C─H bond is the most abundant chemical bond in organic compounds. Therefore, the development of the more direct methods for C─H bond cleavage and the elucidation of their mechanisms will provide an important theoretical basis for achieving more efficient C─H functionalization and target...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qi Miao, Meng Liu, Jun Wang, Pan Wu, Changjun Liu, Jian He, Giacomo Lo Zupone, Wei Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Exploration
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240237
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849221958146719744
author Qi Miao
Meng Liu
Jun Wang
Pan Wu
Changjun Liu
Jian He
Giacomo Lo Zupone
Wei Jiang
author_facet Qi Miao
Meng Liu
Jun Wang
Pan Wu
Changjun Liu
Jian He
Giacomo Lo Zupone
Wei Jiang
author_sort Qi Miao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The C─H bond is the most abundant chemical bond in organic compounds. Therefore, the development of the more direct methods for C─H bond cleavage and the elucidation of their mechanisms will provide an important theoretical basis for achieving more efficient C─H functionalization and target molecule construction. In this study, the catalyst‐free photon‐induced direct homolysis of Csp3─H bonds at room temperature was discovered for the first time. The applicable substrate scope of this phenomenon is very wide, expanding from the initial benzyl compounds to aliphatic alcohols, alkanes, olefins, polymers containing benzyl hydrogens, and even gaseous methane. Experiments and calculations have demonstrated that this process involves rapid vibrational relaxation on the femtosecond time scale, leading to the formation of hydrogen radical and carbon radical. Importantly, the direct homolysis of Csp3─H bonds is independent of the presence of oxidants, highlighting its spontaneous nature. Additionally, the cleaved hydrogen radical exhibits diverse reactivity, including coupling reactions to produce hydrogen gas (H2), reduction of oxygen to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid (HCOOH). Notably, in the field of H2O2 production, the absence of a catalyst allows for the bypassing of inherent drawbacks associated with photocatalysts, thereby presenting significant potential for practical application. Furthermore, the cleaved carbon radicals display enhanced reactivity, providing excellent opportunities for direct functionalization, thereby enabling efficient C─H bond activation and molecular construction. Overall, this significant discovery offers a valuable new strategy for the production of bulk chemicals, organic synthesis, low‐carbon and hydrogen energy industries, as well as environmental treatment.
format Article
id doaj-art-5cef713bb75a4f3c834a457c4c1e84e8
institution Kabale University
issn 2766-8509
2766-2098
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Exploration
spelling doaj-art-5cef713bb75a4f3c834a457c4c1e84e82025-08-26T10:32:53ZengWileyExploration2766-85092766-20982025-08-0154n/an/a10.1002/EXP.20240237Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free PhotoexcitationQi Miao0Meng Liu1Jun Wang2Pan Wu3Changjun Liu4Jian He5Giacomo Lo Zupone6Wei Jiang7Low‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaLow‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental‐Friendly Energy MaterialsSchool of Materials and ChemistrySouthwest University of Science and TechnologyMianyangChinaLow‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaLow‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaLow‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaDepartment of MechanicsMathematics and ManagementPolytechnic of BariBariItalyLow‐Carbon Technology and Chemical Reaction Engineering LaboratorySchool of Chemical EngineeringSichuan UniversityChengduP.R. ChinaABSTRACT The C─H bond is the most abundant chemical bond in organic compounds. Therefore, the development of the more direct methods for C─H bond cleavage and the elucidation of their mechanisms will provide an important theoretical basis for achieving more efficient C─H functionalization and target molecule construction. In this study, the catalyst‐free photon‐induced direct homolysis of Csp3─H bonds at room temperature was discovered for the first time. The applicable substrate scope of this phenomenon is very wide, expanding from the initial benzyl compounds to aliphatic alcohols, alkanes, olefins, polymers containing benzyl hydrogens, and even gaseous methane. Experiments and calculations have demonstrated that this process involves rapid vibrational relaxation on the femtosecond time scale, leading to the formation of hydrogen radical and carbon radical. Importantly, the direct homolysis of Csp3─H bonds is independent of the presence of oxidants, highlighting its spontaneous nature. Additionally, the cleaved hydrogen radical exhibits diverse reactivity, including coupling reactions to produce hydrogen gas (H2), reduction of oxygen to generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid (HCOOH). Notably, in the field of H2O2 production, the absence of a catalyst allows for the bypassing of inherent drawbacks associated with photocatalysts, thereby presenting significant potential for practical application. Furthermore, the cleaved carbon radicals display enhanced reactivity, providing excellent opportunities for direct functionalization, thereby enabling efficient C─H bond activation and molecular construction. Overall, this significant discovery offers a valuable new strategy for the production of bulk chemicals, organic synthesis, low‐carbon and hydrogen energy industries, as well as environmental treatment.https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240237catalyst‐freeC─H direct homolysisphotochemistry
spellingShingle Qi Miao
Meng Liu
Jun Wang
Pan Wu
Changjun Liu
Jian He
Giacomo Lo Zupone
Wei Jiang
Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
Exploration
catalyst‐free
C─H direct homolysis
photochemistry
title Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
title_full Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
title_fullStr Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
title_full_unstemmed Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
title_short Room‐Temperature Direct Homolysis of Csp3─H Bond via Catalyst‐Free Photoexcitation
title_sort room temperature direct homolysis of csp3─h bond via catalyst free photoexcitation
topic catalyst‐free
C─H direct homolysis
photochemistry
url https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240237
work_keys_str_mv AT qimiao roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT mengliu roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT junwang roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT panwu roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT changjunliu roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT jianhe roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT giacomolozupone roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation
AT weijiang roomtemperaturedirecthomolysisofcsp3hbondviacatalystfreephotoexcitation