| Abstract: | Semiconducting zinc and cadmium sulfide powders are photocatalysts for novel organic syntheses. Due to their ability to generate reducing and oxidizing surface centers through light absorption, these powders can catalyze C‐C and C‐N coupling reactions via initial interfacial electron transfer with adsorbed substrates like olefins, imines, and 1,2‐diazenes. The thus obtained primary intermediates may be transformed to reduced and oxidized products, like in an electrochemical reaction, or combine to one unique addition product. In the latter case the addition of cyclic olefins to imines and 1,2‐diazenes affords novel homoallylamines and allylhydrazines. This is a good example for “green chemistry”, since no waste materials are produced and solar light is used as energy source. The eterogeneous sensitizer can be conveniently separated from the products by filtration. |
