Controlling Radical Intermediates in Photocatalytic Conversion of Low-Carbon-Number Alcohols

Low-carbon number alcohols (LCNAs) are important platform molecules that can be derived from many resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, and CO2, creating a route to value-added chemicals fuels. Semiconductor photocatalysis provides novel method for converting LCNAs into variety of downstream products. Photocatalysis is initiated by light-excited charge carriers highly oxidative reductive. The polarity bond dissociation energy (BDE) C?–H bonds small alcohols, so it homolytically dissociated the participation photogenerated holes. Consequently, photocatalytic LCNA conversion overcomes challenge activation in thermocatalysis. Apart carbon radicals generated cleavage, other formed during photocatalysis, which active have multiple pathways, resulting complex product distributions. In this Perspective, we summarize methods controlling generation radical intermediates subsequent reactions LCNAs. intrinsic properties photocatalysts external solution environments two main factors affect selectivity final On basis, challenges current propose directions future research, with aim inspire studies on selective molecular radicals.