Photocatalysis for Green Synthesis

Heterogeneous photocatalysis by policrystalline semiconductor oxides in an unconventional chemical technology that has been applied mainly to degrade organic and inorganic poluttants both in vapour and liquid phase. It is generally accepted that TiO2 is the most reliable photocalyst, due to its low cost and (photo) stability under irradiation. Application of phocalysis for synthetic purposed are rare expecially by using water as the solvent. The reasons can be found in the fact that (i) the titania mediated photocatalytic reactions are unselective processes at the presence of induces the production of unselected highly oxidant. OH radical species, whereas (ii) many organic molecules (reagents and/or products) are poorly or not soluble in water. In the last decade, newly developed titania-based photocatalysts and reaction conditions have resulted in a number of relevant applications of heterogeneous photocatalysis to organic synthetic chemistry.