Oxygen-Controlled Catalysis by Vitamin B12 -TiO2 : Formation of Esters and Amides from Trichlorinated Organic Compounds by Photoirradiation

Abstract

An oxygen switch in catalysis of the cobalamin derivative (B12 )-TiO2 hybrid catalyst for the dechlorination of trichlorinated organic compounds has been developed. The covalently bound B12 on the TiO2 surface transformed trichlorinated organic compounds into an ester and amide by UV light irradiation under mild conditions (in air at room temperature), while dichlorostilbenes (E and Z forms) were formed in nitrogen from benzotrichloride. A benzoyl chloride was formed as an intermediate of the ester and amide, which was detected by GC-MS. The substrate scope of the synthetic strategy is demonstrated with a range of various trichlorinated organic compounds. A photo-duet reaction utilizing the hole and conduction band electron of TiO2 in B12 -TiO2 for the amide formation was also developed.

Keywords: cobalamins; heterogeneous catalysis; oxygen; photocatalysis; titanium dioxide.