Cooperative Ir(iii)/Ni(ii) catalysis in a photoactive molecular amine cage for visible-light-induced aerobic α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters

Abstract

Post-coordination of Ni(II) ions to a photoactive dinuclear Ir(III)-based amine cage affords a supramolecular catalyst that integrates visible-light harvesting with Ni(II)-mediated substrate activation, enabling aerobic α-hydroxylation of β-keto esters under 450 nm irradiation in up to 88% yield.