Photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide by two-electron reduction of dioxygen with carbon-neutral oxalate using a 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion as a robust photocatalyst

Abstract

Efficient photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) from O2 and oxalate has been made possible by using a 2-phenyl-4-(1-naphthyl)quinolinium ion as a robust photocatalyst in an oxygen-saturated mixed solution of a buffer and acetonitrile with a high quantum yield of 14% (maximum 50% for the two-electron process) at λ = 334 nm and a high H2O2 yield of 93% at λ > 340 nm. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.