Affiliation:
1. PhotoGreen Lab Department of Chemistry University of Pavia viale Taramelli 12 27100 Pavia Italy
2. Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cintia 4 I-80126 Naples Italy
3. Bioelectronics Task Force University of Naples Federico II 80126 Naples Italy
Abstract
AbstractFour melanin polymers prepared from different precursors (5,6‐dihydroxyindole, 5,6‐dihydroxyindole 2‐carboxylic acid, 1,8‐dihydroxynaphthalene and dopamine) have been adopted as photocatalysts in the reductive dehalogenation of a series of model α‐halogen carbonyl derivatives. The best performing melanin was that obtained from 5,6‐dihydroxyindole 2‐carboxylic acid, which allowed to dehalogenate efficiently both bromomalonate esters and phenacyl bromide; on the other hand, chloromalonate esters were almost unreactive under the same reaction conditions. Electrochemical and control experiments enabled to elucidate the reaction mechanism, demonstrating the key role of electrons as charge carriers in the observed photocatalytic process.
Funder
Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca