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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
Visible light activation of C-Cl and C-F bonds in persistent organic pollutants using cerium(iii) triamidoamine
Adrien Combourieu1, Stella Christodoulou2, Laurent Maron2
1Laboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire, CNRS, UMR 9168, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris Route de Saclay Palaiseau Cedex 91128 France gregory.danoun@polytechnique.edu.
Abstract:
Procedures for activating and degrading compounds containing carbon-halogen bonds are highly sought after due to the environmental persistence and potential hazards of such compounds. Such activations are challenging because of the high stability of these bonds, particularly those with C-F bonds. Here, we report on the activation of carbon-halogen bonds, including C-F bonds, by the cerium(iii)-triamidoamine complex CeIIITRENTIPS (1, TRENTIPS = tris-(2-(tri-iso-propylsilylamidoethyl)amine)). Under light irradiation, 1 reaches a strongly negative excited state redox potential, and our measurements enable it to be estimated as -3.2 V relative to Cp2Fe0/+. Hence, the photo-reactivity of 1 with carbon-halogen bonds has been established with numerous examples, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and fluorinated compounds. The photoactivation of POPs is rapid, but the photoactive nature of the cerium(iv) products precludes complete conversion. This study provides insight into the activation of POPs that may benefit the future design of photodegradation approaches for these highly problematic compounds.
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