Visible light photoredox catalysis with Ru(bpy)32+ has recently garnered a lot of attention for its ability to mediate a wide variety of one-electron events for accessing synthetically useful and interesting products. In spite of recent work, the mechanism of these reactions remains largely speculative and unexplored. The mechanism is generally proposed to include a closed catalytic cycle with product formation and photocatalyst turnover coupled together, however we propose that these transformations also proceed through chain propagation.  The quantum yield of a reaction can be used as evidence towards a chain propagation mechanism. Quantum yields are measured and chain lengths are calculated for a number of typical photoredox reactions. Given recent experimental evidence, we propose that several of our previously reported reactions undergo a chain propagation mechanism.

Evidence for a chain propagation mechanism in visible light photoredox catalysis

248th National Meeting (2014)

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