Our goal is to modify and incorporate a recently published green experiment by Cheng et al.[1] into the organic chemistry laboratory curriculum at Florida Atlantic University, for the first time. The reaction involves the reduction of N-phenylthiobenzamide by tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)dichlororuthenium(II) hexahydrate photocatalyst to cleanly yield 2-phenylbenzothiazole and water. We have enhanced the green approach of Cheng et al. by utilizing blue light emitting diodes (L.E.D.'s) instead of mercury containing fluorescent lights to activate the ruthenium(II) catalyst in this reaction. Our work thus meets green chemistry guidelines because the photocatalyst's ability to function with L.E.D. produced visible light is more eco-friendly.  In summary, deriving greener ways to prepare visible light for photocatalyst activation in chemical reactions is important to help reduce human and environmental exposure to dangerous chemicals. References 1. Cheng, Y.; Yang, J.; Qu, Y.; & Li, P., Organic Letters 2012 , 14, 98-101.

Integration of a novel green chemistry experiment, using a visible light photocatalyst, into the organic chemistry lab at Florida Atlantic University

245th National Meeting (2013)

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