Pratheepkumar Annamalai

Abstract Light-regulated control over catalytic activity is a key step toward adaptive and programmable chemical systems. Here, we report a minimalistic supramolecular organocatalytic platform that enables reversible spatiotemporal regulation of enzyme-mimetic activity in water using light as a non-invasive trigger. An azobenzene–imidazole conjugate (Azo-Imd) integrates a photoresponsive molecular switch with a catalytically active imidazole unit.

Most of the metal-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation reaction were carried out in organic solvent using expensive oxidant such as Cu(II) and Ag(I) salts. Here, we reported a new approach for highly regioselective synthesis of isoquinolones from N-alkyl benzamides and alkynes using Rh(III) catalyst and inexpensive oxygen as the sole oxidant in aqueous medium. In the reaction, water gave the highest product yield among the solvents used.