An Atomically Dispersed Photocatalyst for Undirected <i>para</i> ‐Selective C─H Bond Functionalizations

S Suman Pradhan (Department of Chemistry University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany) J Jun Hu P Peng Ren Y Yuman Qin (Department of Chemistry University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany) N Noopur Jain (EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium) S Susanna Monti (CNR-ICCOM, Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds) G Giovanni Barcaro (CNR-IPCF, Institute of Chemical and Physical Processes) A Aleksander Jaworski (Department of Chemistry) X Xingchao Dai (Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29A, Rostock 18059, Germany) J Jabor Rabeah (Magnetic Resonance and X-ray Methods) J Joaquin Silvestre‐Albero (Departamento de Química Inorgánica Instituto Universitario de Materiales Universidad de Alicante Alicante E‐03080 Spain) V Veronica Celorrio (Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.) A Anna Rokicińska (Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland) P Piotr Kuśtrowski (Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland) S Sandra Van Aert (EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium) S Sara Bals (Electron Microscopy for Materials Research and NanoLight Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium) S Shoubhik Das (Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany)

Abstract

Abstract Regioselective C─H bond functionalization is pivotal in modern scientific exploration, offering solutions for achieving novel synthetic methodologies and pharmaceutical development. In this aspect, achieving exceptional regioselective functionalization, like para ‐selective products in electron‐poor aromatics, diverges from traditional methods. Leveraging the advantages of atomically dispersed photocatalysts, we designed a robust photocatalyst for an unconventional regioselective aromatic C─H bond functionalization. This innovation enabled para ‐selective trifluoromethylations of electron‐deficient metadirecting aromatics (─NO 2 , ─CF 3 , ─CN, etc.), which is entirely orthogonal to the traditional approaches. Mechanistic experiments and DFT analysis confirmed the interaction between Cu‐atom and the aromatic substrate, alongside the photocatalyst's molecular arrangement, driving selective exposure of the para ‐selective functionalization. This strategic approach elucidated pathways for precise molecular transformations, advancing the frontier of regioselective C─H bond functionalization by using atomically dispersed photocatalysts in organic synthesis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 33
Published August 11, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (17)

S

Suman Pradhan

Department of Chemistry University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany

J

Jun Hu

P

Peng Ren

Y

Yuman Qin

Department of Chemistry University of Bayreuth Bayreuth Germany

N

Noopur Jain

EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium

S

Susanna Monti

CNR-ICCOM, Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds

G

Giovanni Barcaro

CNR-IPCF, Institute of Chemical and Physical Processes

A

Aleksander Jaworski

Department of Chemistry

X

Xingchao Dai

Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse, Albert-Einstein-Str. 29A, Rostock 18059, Germany

J

Jabor Rabeah

Magnetic Resonance and X-ray Methods

J

Joaquin Silvestre‐Albero

Departamento de Química Inorgánica Instituto Universitario de Materiales Universidad de Alicante Alicante E‐03080 Spain

V

Veronica Celorrio

Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.

A

Anna Rokicińska

Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland

P

Piotr Kuśtrowski

Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland

S

Sandra Van Aert

EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence Department of Physics University of Antwerp Antwerp 2020 Belgium

S

Sara Bals

Electron Microscopy for Materials Research and NanoLight Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium

S

Shoubhik Das

Department of Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany