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Title: Can We Harness Light Like Nature for a New Era of Green Chemistry?

Link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/08/17/0...

Sunlight becomes energy when plants convert four photons of light. But
unfortunately, most attempts at synthetic light-absorbing chemicals can only
absorb one photon at a time, write two researchers from the University of
Melbourne. "In the Polyzos research group at the School of Chemistry, we have
developed a new class of photocatalysts that, like plants, can absorb energy
from multiple photons." This breakthrough allows us to harness light energy
more effectively, driving challenging and energy-demanding chemical
reactions. We have applied this technology to generate carbanions -
negatively charged carbon atoms that serve as crucial building blocks in the
creation, or synthesis, of carbon- and hydrogen-rich chemicals known as
organic chemicals. Carbanions are vital in making drugs, polymers and many
other important materials. However, traditional methods to produce carbanions
often require lots of energy and dangerous reagents, and generate significant
chemical waste, posing environmental and safety challenges... Our new method
offers a greener, safer alternative [using visible light and renewable
starting materials]... We've used it to synthesize important drug molecules,
including antihistamines, in a single step using simple, cheap and commonly
available "commodity chemicals" - amines and alkenes. And importantly, the
reaction scales well in commercial-scale continuous flow reactors,
highlighting its potential for industrial applications. "By learning from the
subtle mastery of photosynthesis," the researchers write, their group "is
forging a new paradigm for chemical manufacturing - one where sunlight powers
sustainable and elegant solutions for the molecules that shape our world."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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