An NAD⁺-type earth-abundant metal complex enabling photo-driven alcohol oxidation

For the first time, an NAD⁺-type earth-abundant metal complex [Zn(pbn)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂(1) was found to exhibit photo-induced oxidizing ability to convert various primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehyde and ketone compounds. In addition, a two-electron-reduced Zn(ii) complex [Zn(pbnH-pbnH)(ClO₄)₂] (1^red) comprising the novel C-C coupling ligand, obtained by the photo-induced oxidation of alcohols by1, was successfully isolated and completely characterized. We clarified that the photochemical oxidation of alcohols by1to produce1^redproceedsviaan electron transfer followed by proton transfer mechanism as elucidated by kinetic analysis on the basis of absorption spectroscopic measurements.