ABSTRACT: researchers at the Hokkaido University have found a way to combine light-emitting diode with a copper based molecular catalyst to develop a more sustainable way of making key chemical subunits, these subunits have potential applications in pharmaceutical and OPTOELECTRONIC development. In a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the scientists explain that their proposed technique allows them to perform a so-called cross-coupling, in which two molecules are connected by a carbon-carbon bond. This is one of the most widely used types of reaction and is essential for the manufacture of most chemical products in use today.

The use of copper as a catalyst for cross-coupling reactions is a breakthrough in sustainability, the researchers say, because such reactions often rely on the use of precious metals such as palladium. The new method is also considered advantageous because the copper metal in the molecular catalyst itself absorbs blue light without the need for a separate photochemical compound outside the catalyst. This makes synthesis not only cheaper and simpler, but also easier to control because there are fewer moving parts. Blue Light plays a key role in activating copper-based catalysts. Theoretical calculations show that this light exposure causes electrons to move from the copper atom to a linked subunit of the molecular catalyst. This excited state separates the charge and makes the catalyst more reactive, so researchers can use it to cross-couple to form acyl groups, which are useful for synthesizing drugs and photoelectric materials.

A key aspect of this method is the asymmetry of acyl formation. This means that one of the two possible mirror-image versions of the product molecule is selectively manufactured, a highly desirable feature of new drug development. The implementation of this new method is expected to save costs and improve the sustainability of the production of a wide range of compounds with potential applications in the pharmaceutical and electronic fields. The study’s lead author, Yusuke Masuda, said in a press statement: “This synthesis is a breakthrough because it combines two readily available substances, blue LED lights and copper, to create a previously non-existent coupling reaction. The technology of producing useful compounds from the abundant resources of the earth is essential to the sustainable development of mankind. I expect this progress to be a milestone in the development of sustainable approaches to molecular synthesis. 

Source: Treasure Information