Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
Asymmetric Dual Sites Enable Spatially Resolved Biradical-Mediated C-N Coupling for N,N-Dimethylformamide
Yuye Jiao1, Yurou Song1, Biao Yang1
1Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, People's Republic of China.
None:
N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is a quintessential industrial solvent and precursor, and its energy-intensive, high-temperature conventional synthesis necessitates the development of mild, sustainable biomass-derived alternatives. Photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) offers a promising green route; however, its performance is limited by competitive adsorption and inadequate control over reaction selectivity. Herein, we engineered an asymmetric dual-site earth-abundant semiconductor to achieve biradical-mediated C-N coupling, attaining a Faradaic efficiency of 86.6%, a selectivity of 90.1%, and a DMF yield of 145.5 mmol m-2 h-1. For practical implementation, the parallel-connect stacked PEC device, with an area of 175 cm2, was recorded as the state-of-the-art PEC system for DMF photoelectrosynthesis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that bismuth vacancies, possessing a high p-band center, preferentially activated methanol to generate *CHO radicals, whereas BiOx sites, characterized by a moderate electronic environment, selectively catalyzed dimethylamine to form *N(CH3)2 radicals. This dual-site architecture effectively decouples the competitive adsorption of alcohol and amine substrates, enabling spatial segregation and achieving biradical-mediated C-N coupling. Importantly, the system demonstrated broad substrate adaptability, including cyclic secondary amines, highlighting its potential for constructing valuable amide derivatives. Our work provides a practical strategy for the mild valorization of biomass feedstocks and establishes an electronic structure-guided paradigm for selectivity control and kinetic optimization in biradical-mediated C-N coupling.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation
Spin–Spin Coupling: Two-Bond Coupling (Geminal Coupling)
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
![[(DPEPhos)(bcp)Cu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59739.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
