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Photoactive PFA Coating through Fluorophilic Interactions for Continuous Flow Photochemistry
Jesús Castro-Esteban1, John H Dunlap2,3, Benedikt S Schreib1
1Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
JACS Au
|December 26, 2025
Summary
We developed a new method to coat flow reactors with photocatalysts for efficient chemical reactions. The perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) coil reactors functionalized with poly-(p-phenylene ethynylene) polymers (PPEST) showed robust performance and high conversion rates.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Flow reactors are crucial for scalable chemical synthesis.
- Conventional reactors face challenges in light penetration, catalyst immobilization, and separation.
- Heterogeneous photocatalysis demands efficient reactor designs for improved performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a robust methodology for functionalizing perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) coil reactors with fluorinated photocatalysts.
- To evaluate the efficiency and stability of these functionalized reactors in continuous flow photocatalysis.
- To identify the most effective photocatalyst coating for chemical synthesis in flow.
Main Methods:
- Functionalization of PFA coil reactors using fluorophilic interactions with perylene diimide (F-PDI) and poly-(p-phenylene ethynylene) polymers (PPEST, POLPDI).
- Continuous flow experiments utilizing the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 9-vinylcarbazole (VCZ).
- In-line nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of VCZ conversion.
Main Results:
- PPEST demonstrated the most robust photocatalyst coating among the studied materials.
- High conversions of VCZ to 1,2-trans-dicarbazylcyclobutane (t-DCZCB) were achieved with varying lamp powers and residence times.
- PPEST-functionalized reactors maintained stability and efficiency over 18 hours of continuous operation, with conversions ranging from 50-75%.
Conclusions:
- Fluorophilic interactions provide an effective method for immobilizing photocatalysts in PFA coil reactors.
- PPEST-functionalized PFA coil reactors offer a stable and efficient platform for continuous flow heterogeneous photocatalysis.
- This approach enhances control, efficiency, and scalability for photochemical transformations.
