Selective Solid State Photooxidant

Irradiation of biphenyl encapsulated in the cavities of a NaZSM-5 zeolite framework has been reported to result in the formation of an extremely long-lived radical cation. Here, we show that such zeolite encapsulated radical cations can act as irreversible one-electron oxidants for simple alkenes and dienes, in a solid-state analogue to solution-phase cosensitization. Compared to the well-known semiconductor photooxidizers, such as titanium dioxide, the NaZSM-5 zeolite-based solid photooxidants exhibit enhanced selectivity based on oxidation potential, molecular size and shape, and Lewis base character.