Micellar Ru(II)-bipyridine photocatalysts for selective oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides in water

Abstract

A supramolecular photocatalytic system was engineered by encapsulating a modified ruthenium(II)-bipyridine complex in stabilized polydiacetylene micelles. The colloidal nanohybrid catalyst enables selective oxidation of thioethers to sulfoxides in pure water, and can be easily recycled. The polymerized network within the micelles ensures the robustness of the assembly, while providing a confined domain that acts as a (photo)nanoreactor.