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Abstract
Controlling the selectivity of a chemical
reaction with external stimuli is common in thermal processes, but rare in visible-light photocatalysis. Here we
show that the redox potential of a carbon nitride photocatalyst (CN-OA-m) can
be tuned by changing the irradiation wavelength to generate electron holes with
different oxidation potentials. This tuning was the key to realizing photo-chemo-enzymatic cascades that give either the (S)- or the (R)-enantiomer
of phenylethanol. In combination with an unspecific peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita, green light irradiation of CN-OA-m led to the
enantioselective hydroxylation of ethylbenzene to (R)-1-phenylethanol
(99% ee). In contrast, blue light irradiation triggered the
photocatalytic oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone, which in turn was
enantioselectively reduced with an alcohol dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus ruber to form (S)-1-phenylethanol (93% ee).
Supplementary materials
Title
PhotoCat-switching product SI
Description
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