Solar cell tries its hand at organic synthesis

Scientists in Switzerland have developed a strategy for aminating aromatic hydrocarbons using a photoelectrochemical cell. The system, which produced a wide range of organic molecules containing an aryl C–N moiety without pre-functionalising the substrate, could open new avenues in organic synthesis. Photoelectrochemical cells are typically studied for converting solar energy into chemical fuels. In a typical device, water is split into oxygen and hydrogen upon illumination of a photoanode. Although a high reducing or oxidising power can be generated in such cells under mild conditions, their use in organic synthesis has remained limited.