Boosting type-I ROS production of molecular photosensitizers using bridge-assisted superexchange coupling.

ABSTRACT: Bridge-assisted superexchange coupling capable of long-range electron transfer proves to be effective for charge separation. However, the exploitation of this photochemical process in engineering reactive oxygen species (ROS) production remains unexplored. Herein, piperazine serves as a bridging unit to facilitate a cascade electron transfer from the electron donor site (CO) to the acceptor site (CN) within the COCN molecule, ultimately boosting the generation of superoxide radicals (O₂ ^-˙) and hydroxyl radicals (˙OH). Experimental and theoretical studies elucidate that the long-range electron transfer is enabled by a superexchange interaction through the piperazine σ*-bridge, which leads to an effective generation of a radical ion pair CO⁺˙BCN^-˙

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11406610 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature