Polyoxometalate systems for the catalytic selective production of nonthermodynamic alkenes from alkanes. Nature of excited-state deactivation processes and control of subsequent thermal processes in polyoxometalate photoredox chemistry

Abstract

The photooxidations of exemplary branched acyclic alkanes and cycloalkanes by a range of polyoxotungstates varying in charge density, ground-state redox potential, acidity, and other properties were examined in detail. The organic products generated in these reactions depend on the polyoxometalate used, and in particular on the ground-state redox potential of the complex. Under anaerobic conditions acyclic branched alkanes yield principally alkenes, while cycloalkanes yield principally alkenes and dimers. Alkyl methyl ketones, derived in part from reaction with acetonitrile solvent, and isomerized alkanes are produced with some alkane substrates. Under aerobic conditions, autoxidation, initiated by radicals generated in the photoinduced redox chemistry, is observed. Under aerobic conditions the polyoxotungstates with formal redox potentials more negative than {minus}1.0 V vs Ag/AgNO{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}CN), such as W{sub 10}O{sub 32}{sup 4{minus}} and W{sub 6}O{sub 19}{sup 2{minus}}, photochemically dehydrogenate branched acyclic alkanes in high selectivity to {alpha}-olefins and the least substituted alkenes, products heretofore undocumented in photooxidation reactions catalyzed by polyoxometalates.