Chemical Reactions on the Water Surface
UR researchers develop a new synthesis method - Publication in Science
16 February 2024
By forming chemical bonds between atoms, complex molecules such as those needed for medicines, crop protection products, or high-performance materials are prepared using synthetic chemistry. Such synthesis reactions typically require organic solvents, metal catalysts, and reagents such as acids or alkalis. Not all auxiliary materials and solvents can always be recycled, which results in waste.
Researchers from the University of Regensburg under the lead of Professor Dr. Burkhard König, Institute of Organic Chemistry, are now presenting a completely different way to synthesize complex molecules: the molecules to be reacted are applied to a water surface, where they form a thin film. Irradiation with violet light triggers a reaction that links both reaction partners. The new methodology exploits the film formation of water-insoluble organic molecules on the water surface (like an oil film on a puddle) to create ideal conditions for activation by light. The breadth of application of the technology was demonstrated in over 160 examples, including the synthesis of precursors of drugs. The light reaction on the water surface now allows chemical synthesis without the use of organic solvents or other reaction additives. This makes the production of chemical products more efficient and environmentally friendly. The results of years of research have now been published in the scientific journal Science.
Continuous photochemical reaction at the oil-water interface in the laboratory of Prof. König (University of Regensburg). Credit © Burkhard König
The project has been running for about two years. During this time, numerous experiments were carried out to further develop and confirm the central discovery. Transferring the reaction to a flow reactor was a breakthrough, as the synthesis can be carried out continuously and larger amounts of product are also accessible. Spectroscopic measurements provided insight into the molecular mechanism of the reaction. In subsequent work, the synthesis technology will now be applied to other reactions to achieve the widest possible range of applications in the production of chemical products.
Original publication:
Ya-Ming Tian, Wagner Silva, Ruth M. Gschwind, Burkhard König, “Accelerated photochemical reactions at oil-water interface exploiting melting point depression”, Science, 15 Feb 2024, Vol 383, Issue 6684, pp. 750-756, DOI: 10.1126/science.adl3092
Information/Contact
Prof. Dr. Burkhard König
Institute of Organic Chemistry
University of Regensburg
Tel.: +49 (0)941 943-4576
E-mail: burkhard.koenig@ur.de
