at Google ScholarTitle data
Su, Wenhao ; Pradhan, Suman ; Hu, Jun ; Ren, Peng ; Rockstroh, Nils ; Skorynina, Alina ; Kuśtrowski, Piotr ; Monti, Susanna ; Barcaro, Giovanni ; Zeng, Chaoqin ; Rabeah, Jabor ; Jaworski, Aleksander ; Simonelli, Laura ; Slabon, Adam ; Das, Shoubhik:
An Atomically Dispersed Copper-Catalyst Lights the Way to Selective N-Demethylations.
In: Nature Communications.
Vol. 17
(2026)
Issue 1
.
- 8489.
ISSN 2041-1723
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-76282-0
Abstract in another language
N-demethylation is a key transformation in drug metabolism, medicinal chemistry, and late-stage amine diversification. Herein, we report a noble-metal-free, recyclable heterogeneous photocatalyst comprising atomically dispersed Cu sites on functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (Cu@f-gC3N4) for selective N-demethylation and N-dealkylation. Under 390 nm irradiation and an oxygen atmosphere, a broad range of tertiary amines, including pharmaceutically relevant substrates, are converted to secondary amines in high yields. The reaction is readily scalable to 10 mmol, and the catalyst retains its activity over more than ten reuse cycles. Atomically isolated Cu sites were confirmed by XPS, ssNMR, STEM, and EXAFS. Mechanistic studies, including radical trapping, isotope labeling, reactive oxygen species detection, kinetic analysis, in situ FTIR, and DFT calculations, support a photoredox pathway involving amine oxidation, superoxide formation, hydrogen abstraction, iminium generation, and hydrolysis, providing a structurally defined and mechanistically understood photocatalytic platform.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Organic Chemistry I - Photo- und Elektrokatalyse für Nachhaltigkeit > Chair Organic Chemistry I - Photo- und Elektrokatalyse für Nachhaltigkeit - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Shoubhik Das |
| Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
| DDC Subjects: | 500 Science > 540 Chemistry |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2026 07:53 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Aug 2026 07:53 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/99298 |