Functionalization and soft photoreduction of graphene oxide triggered by the photoinitiator during thiol-ene radical addition

Abstract

Thiol-ene radical addition (TERA) is a powerful reaction for the chemical functionalization of the reactive alkenes of GO with thiols. To trigger TERA, a photoinitiator (PI) is added to ensure high yields associated with fast conversion rates. However, the inappropriate use of PIs might affect the GO functionalization leading to photoreduction as well as low conversion rates. Herein, we explored the GO functionalization with cysteamine (CA) by TERA and its reduction influenced by Irgacure® 369, a commercial PI. We focused to analyze the reaction conditions that promote an orthogonal GO functionalization finding the limits where the photoreduction began. UV-spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence labeling and XPS were used to characterize the functionalized GO. The data indicate three possible scenarios depending on the PI/CA molar ratio: i) orthogonal GO functionalization by TERA, ii) side reactions between GO and the radicals formed upon the PI photocleavage, and iii) soft photoreduction of the GO with alcohols and carboxylic acids as the functional groups mainly affected. However, we found that the GO functionalization by TERA was still occurring, but in less favorable conditions despite the side reactions and by-products. Therefore, photo-initiated TERA was confirmed as a powerful reaction to functionalize the reactive alkenes of GO, and by tuning the PI/CA molar ratio an orthogonal GO functionalization can be achieved, limiting side reactions and particularly GO reduction.