Ensemble of Microwave and Light

October 21, 2021

Microwave/optical collaborative chemistry and expectations for carbon neutrality

RIKEN CSRS has successfully developed a catalytic chemical synthesis reaction system where light collaborates with microwave.

Of the improvement of chemical reactions and reaction rates assisted by microwave irradiation, those that involve principles different from the heating effect are called "(non-thermal) microwave effect," which have been studied in a new research field called microwave chemistry. Still, little has been known about microwave effects in organic single molecules, because microwave chemistry mainly deals with reactions on solid surfaces.

In this study, the group successfully observed microwave effects on organic molecules by constructing an oxygen oxidation system of dimethyl sulfoxide using phenylacetylene, an organic molecule, as a photocatalyst, and irradiating microwave on it.

The results of this study are expected to contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of microwave chemical reactions, which has been attracting attention as an energy-saving synthesis method, and the development of new carbon neutral synthesis methods.

Original article

Scientific Reports doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99322-9

Y. Matsukawa, A. Muranaka, T. Murayama, M. Uchiyama, H. Takaya, Y. M. A. Yamada,

"Microwave-assisted photooxidation of sulfoxides".

Contact

Yoichi Yamada

Team Leader

Green Nanocatalysis Research Team