C6 to C17 Organic Products from Artificial Photosynthesis Catalyzed by 2-Phenyl Indole (PI) Titanium Tetrachloride Complex (PI)2TiCl4. The Synergism of Hydroxyl Radicals.

17 December 2024, Version 2
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The newly discovered artificial photosynthesis process catalyzed by 2-phenyl indole (PI) and TiCl₄ complexes activated by visible light, produces long-chain oxygenated hydrocarbons up to C17. This process begins with the formation of α-carboxylic acid-ω-aldehyde compounds (C6 to C9), arising from a cascade of autocatalytic organotitanium complexes derived from (PI)₂TiCl₄. These complexes are formed via hydrolysis by ambient air humidity and the direct atmospheric capture (DAC) of CO₂. Carbon chain growth utilizes system-generated formaldehyde as a feedstock. The initial C6 to C9 compounds can further couple to C12 to C17 derivatives through a radical mechanism initiated by hydroxyl radicals. A proposed mechanism explores the synergistic interaction between organotitanium catalysis and hydroxyl radicals. This development represents the only known heterogeneous catalytic system that autonomously captures CO₂ and humidity from the atmosphere to produce long-chain oxygenated hydrocarbons using solar energy.

Keywords

artificial photosynthesis
CO2 capture
long chain hydrocarbon products
hydroxyl radicals
radical dimerization
organotitanium catalysis
autocatalysis

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