Photo-activated Carbon dots (CDs) as Catalysts in the Knoevenagel Condensation: A Mechanistic Study by Dual-Mode Monitoring via ESI-MS

Francesca Cosentino; Cinzia Michenzi; Alessia Di Noi; Chiara Salvitti; Federico Pepi; Giulia de Petris; Isabella Chiarotto; Anna Troiani

doi:10.1002/cplu.202400174

Photo-activated Carbon dots (CDs) as Catalysts in the Knoevenagel Condensation: A Mechanistic Study by Dual-Mode Monitoring via ESI-MS

Chempluschem. 2024 Aug;89(8):e202400174. doi: 10.1002/cplu.202400174. Epub 2024 Jul 2.

Authors

Francesca Cosentino¹, Cinzia Michenzi², Alessia Di Noi¹, Chiara Salvitti¹, Federico Pepi¹, Giulia de Petris¹, Isabella Chiarotto², Anna Troiani¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, "Sapienza" University of Rome P.le Aldo, Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
² Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Via Castro Laurenziano 7, 00161, Roma, Italy.

PMID: 38771069
DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400174

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) obtained from 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF) were activated by a 365 nm-UV irradiation source and employed in the Knoevenagel condensation to investigate their photocatalytic mechanism. To this end, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to monitor the time progress of the condensation and follow the formation of the final product in positive and negative ion modes at once. The intervention of the superoxide radical anion in the photocatalytic mechanism of CDs was highlighted.

Keywords: Knoevenagel condensation; carbon dots; electrospray ionization mass spectrometry; photochemistry; superoxide radical anion.

Abstract

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