Artificial photoenzyme catalyzed aerobic oxidative cleavage of olefins in water

Abstract

An efficient photocatalytic system based on an artificially engineered photoenzyme, BSA-TXO, has been developed for the oxidative cleavage of various alkenes into ketones. This catalytic system operates under aqueous and aerobic conditions, exhibits a broad substrate scope, and requires low catalyst loading. Mechanistic studies, utilizing radical scavengers and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, indicate the involvement of superoxide radical anions. The artificial photoenzyme can be readily recycled up to five times at a loading of 0.01 mol%, achieving a cumulative total turnover number of 43 530.