Photocatalytically Active Materials with Pyridinium-enolate Partial Structures

Abstract2,3-Dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone and tetrabromo- or tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone were converted into pyridinium enolate betaines by reaction with pyridine or 4,4′-bipyridine. The reaction conditions were applied to poly-(4-vinylpyridine) and a modified Merrifield resin to obtain functionalized polymeric materials. These were examined in thermogravimetric analyses. Reversible photocatalytic electron transfer reactions in the presence of proflavinium and EDTA as sensitizer and sacrificial donor, respectively, were examined. All monomeric and polymeric materials, except for one, proved to be active.