PCET-Based Ligand Limits Charge Recombination with an Ir(III) Photoredox Catalyst

Upon photoinitiated electron transfer, charge recombination limits the quantum yield of photoredox reactions for which the rates for the forward reaction and back electron transfer are competitive. Taking inspiration from a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process in Photosystem II, a benzimidazole-phenol (BIP) has been covalently attached to the 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand of [Ir(dF(CF3)-ppy)(2)(bpy)][ PF6] (dF(CF3) ppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)- 5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl). Excitation of the [Ir(dF(CF3)ppy)(2)(BIP-bpy)][PF6] photocatalyst results in intramolecular PCET to form a charge-separated state with oxidized BIP. Subsequent reduction of methyl viologen dication (MV2+), a substrate surrogate, by the reducing moiety of the charge separated species demonstrates that the inclusion of BIP significantly slows the charge recombination rate. The effect of similar to 24-fold slower charge recombination in a photocatalytic phthalimide ester reduction resulted in a greater than 2-fold increase in reaction quantum efficiency.

Automated summary

By incorporating benzimidazole-phenol (BIP) into a photocatalyst, the charge recombination rate can be significantly slowed down, leading to an over 2-fold increase in reaction quantum efficiency for the photocatalytic phthalimide ester reduction.