Abstract
THE function of photosynthesis in vivo, including subsequent dark reactions, is defined as the reduction of carbon dioxide coupled with oxidation of water to produce organic compounds. We now report the first example of a mimicking of the function of photosynthesis based on electron transport sensitisation1–4. Although the product is not carbohydrate, we consider that the present reaction system consists of (1) electron transfer from the singlet excited state of an aromatic hydrocarbon such as pyrene(Py) or perylene(Pe) to an electron acceptor such as 1,4-dicyanobenzene(DCB) or 9,10-dicyanoanthracene(DCNA) in polar media; (2) successive electron transfer from the acceptor anion radical to carbon dioxide; (3) further reactions of carbon dioxide anion radical as demonstrated in electrolytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and oxalic acid5,6.
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TAZUKE, S., KITAMURA, N. Photofixation of carbon dioxide to formic acid in vitro using water as hydrogen source. Nature 275, 301–302 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/275301a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/275301a0
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