Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of two different chitosan-based structural hydrogenase models

Abstract

Chitosan derivatives containing phosphorus ligands were successfully synthesized in three steps. Depending on the degree of substitution, these derivatives present different states, namely colloidal 1 (16.31%) and powdery 1a (92.99%). Based on this, two kinds of diiron model compounds with different morphologies (2 and 2a) were synthesized. The intermediates (1, 1a) and final products (2, 2a) were characterized by SEM (EDX), EA, FT-IR, XRD and TG-DTA. As new multiphase catalysts, 2 and 2a have been applied to photocatalytic reactions. Under optimum conditions ([Ru(bpy)3]Cl2.6H2O, DMF/H2O/TEA, v/v/v = 8/1/1), the turnover numbers were 35 (2) and 24 (2a) for catalysts in an hour of illumination. In addition, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed.