Photoinduced One-Electron Chloride Oxidation in Water Using a Pentacationic Ir(III) Photosensitizer

Abstract

A novel iridium(III) photosensitizer containing pyridinium-decorated terpyridines has been used for the photooxidation of chloride in water. Despite its abundance, the very positive one-electron reduction potential (E°Cl •/− = 2.1−2.4 V vs NHE) restricted its use in energy conversion schemes and artificial photosynthesis. The kinetics of the photoinduced electron transfer process were investigated through Stern−Volmer quenching experiments and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, which provided unambiguous evidence that photoinduced chloride oxidation occurred with a quenching rate constant k q = 5.0 × 10 10 M −1 s −1 . Complementary spectroelectrochemistry and photolysis experiments confirmed the formation of the reduced photosensitizer and showcased the redox and photostability of the Ir(III) photosensitizer that holds great promise for the HX splitting approach.