Photophysical and Electrochemical Properties of Pyrimidopteridine-Based Organic Photoredox Catalysts

Abstract

Herein we describe the synthesis and photophysical and electrochemical characterization of pyrimidopteridine-based photoredox catalysts. The pyrimidopteridines can be obtained from the corresponding N-oxides through photo-mediated oxygen atom transfer to a sacrificial acceptor molecule on gramscale. The presence of a triplet excited state was evidenced by means of transient absorption spectroscopy. Pyrimidopteridines are potent excited state oxidants with excited state reduction potentials exceeding +2.10 V vs. SCE in MeCN. The catalytic activity is illustrated in the photo-mediated oxidative annulation of 2-phenylbenzoic acid.