Visible-Light-Driven Oxidative Cleavage of Alkenes Using Water-Soluble CdSe Quantum Dots

The oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds is an important chemical reaction, which is a popular reaction in the photocatalytic field. However, high catalyst-loading and low turnover number (TON) are general shortcomings in reported visible-light-driven reactions. Herein, the direct oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds through water-soluble CdSe quantum dots (QDs) is described under visible-light irradiation at room temperature with high TON (up to 3.7x10(4)). Under the same conditions, water-soluble CdSe QDs could also oxidize sulfides to sulfoxides with 51-84 % yields and TONs up to 3.4x10(4). The key features of this photocatalytic protocol include high TONs, wide substrates scope, low catalyst loadings, simple and mild reaction conditions, and molecular O-2 as the oxidant.

Automated summary

In this study, direct oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds and oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using water-soluble CdSe quantum dots under visible-light irradiation were demonstrated with high turnover numbers and a wide range of substrates.