writer：Zhenhua Huang, Zhengfang Wu, Peng Yang* and Wantai Yang*
keywords：Surface modification, Cerium, Photooxidation, C-H activation, Carbohydrate Microarray
source：期刊
specific source：Chemistry A European Journal
Issue time：2014年
It is generally accepted that Ce⁴⁺ is unable to directly oxidize inert alkyl C-H bond without the assistance of adjacent polar groups. Herein we demonstrated in our newly developed confined photochemical reaction system, this recognition might be challenged. As we found, when a thin layer of CeCl₃/HCl aqueous solution was applied onto polymeric substrate, and under UV irradiation, Ce³⁺ was firstly photooxidized into Ce⁴⁺ in the presence of H⁺, and then in situ formed Ce⁴⁺ could perform oxidation reaction on C-H bonds of polymer surface to form active surface carbon radical for further radical graft polymerization as well as functional group transformation, meanwhile reduced itself to Ce³⁺ status with releasing H⁺. This photoinduced cerium recycling redox (PCRR) actually behaved as a biomimetic system towards an artificial recycling reaction, leading to a sustainable chemical modification strategy for directly transforming alkyl C-H bond on polymer surfaces to small molecular group and polymer brushes. This method is expected to provide a green and economical tool for industrial applications of polymer surface modification.