Mechanistic Investigation of the Ce(III) Chloride Photoredox Catalysis System: Understanding the Role of Alcohols as...

Photocatalytic C-H activation is an emerging area of research. While cerium chloride photocatalysts have been extensively studied, the role of alcohol additives in these systems remains a subject of ongoing discussion. It was demonstrated that the photocatalyst [NEt₄]₂[Ce^IVCl₆] (1) produces •Cl and added alcohols exhibit zero-order kinetics. Prior studies by other researchers suggested that 1 and alcohols lead to cerium alkoxide [Ce-OR] and alkoxy radical intermediates. To understand these seemingly divergent mechanistic proposals, an expanded investigation comparing cerium(IV) catalyst 1 and cerium(III) complex [NEt₄]₃[Ce^IIICl₆] (2), which exhibit markedly different reactivity and C-H selectivity, is disclosed. Our findings reveal that alcohol additives accelerate the conversion of cerium(III) to cerium(IV) catalysts, forming key intermediates such as [NEt₄]₂[Ce^IIICl₅(HOCH₃)] (5) and [NEt₄]₂[Ce^IVCl₅(OCH₃)] (6), driven by excited-state di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate under blue light irradiation. The active complex 6 releases the •OCH₃ radical, in sharp contrast to •Cl radicals initiated by cerium(IV) photoredox catalyst 1. These different reactivity and selectivity profiles can be understood in the context of complex 5 generation and in situ formation of base to afford complex 6. Experimental validation shows enhanced selectivity toward C-H bonds with different reactivity with catalyst 1 and methanol upon the addition of base and decreased selectivity with catalyst 2 and methanol upon the addition of acid. These findings unify the previously contrasting observations of cerium halide/alkoxide photocatalytic systems and provide a comprehensive understanding on the essential role of base/acid and alcohol in selectivity and reactivity.