(139a) Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Renewable Materials to Produce Value-Added Chemicals Under Mild Conditions

This talk highlights synthetic molecular photoelectrochemistry for chemoselective C-C/C-O bond cleavage in lignin in the domains of carbon. Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis play crucial roles in organic reactions related to solar energy conversion, biomass processing, polymer degradation, and environmental sustainability. A key challenge in these transformations is the chemoselective cleavage of C-C/C-O bond of aryl-ether linkages in lignin at room temperature, where precise oxidation control is essential for targeted value-added products.

To address this, the Leem Research Group pioneers an aminoxyl radical-mediated (ARM) photoelectrocatalysis approach, integrating stable ARMs as electron-proton transfer mediators with heterogeneous photocatalysts. This method enables selective cleavage of C-C/C-O bond in lignin—a renewable aromatic biomacromolecule—facilitating its conversion into valuable low-molecular-weight chemicals via dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells. The ARM-catalyzed process extends to oxidative cleavage reactions and diverse chemical transformations under mild aerobic conditions, offering promising applications in synthetic organic chemistry and polymer depolymerization.