Scientists Develop Platinum Compounds for Eco-Friendly Polymer and Drug Synthesis Using Green Light

Scientists from St. Petersburg State University have developed new platinum compounds that catalyze the synthesis of polymers and drugs under green light. This breakthrough allows chemical reactions to be conducted more efficiently and under milder conditions, thanks to the use of low-energy green radiation, making the process more natural and environmentally friendly, as reported by the university's press service.

These newly synthesized platinum compounds are the first of their kind to act as catalysts that can produce valuable monomers using green light. The development, supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, paves the way for more sustainable methods in the synthesis of polymers and pharmaceutical compounds.

Photocatalysts are unique substances that can initiate chemical reactions under light exposure without requiring heating or high pressure. This enables reactions to occur under gentler conditions and makes it possible to use substances that would normally degrade in harsher environments. Designing new photocatalysts is a challenging endeavor, as it requires the creation of sophisticated molecules capable of absorbing light and efficiently converting that absorbed energy into productive chemical reactions.

Scientists from St. Petersburg State University have successfully designed such advanced molecules. They have utilized organometallic platinum compounds, which serve a dual role: they act as photosensitizers that capture light energy, while simultaneously functioning as metal complex catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions, all within a single catalytic cycle.

In an innovative departure from traditional methods, the researchers opted for green light activation instead of blue light, which is more commonly used in photocatalysis due to its higher energy. Blue light, however, can be detrimental to reaction products, causing unwanted decomposition or side reactions that lead to a mix of products. The use of softer green light, by contrast, allows the reaction to proceed more naturally, yielding a single desired product with fewer side transformations.

"Until now, there have been few examples of catalysts capable of operating effectively under soft green light, and platinum compounds were not among them," said Maria Kashina, a researcher on the project and a graduate student at the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry at St. Petersburg State University. "Our work has resulted in the development of such compounds, which hold significant potential for improving the production of essential materials used in medicine, aviation, and mechanical engineering."