Researchers have developed a light-activated iron catalyst that can pull oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide at room temperature to oxidize carbon-carbon double bonds in organic molecules. The method, published in Science, offers a potentially safer alternative to traditional oxidizers like ozone or molecular oxygen, which pose flammability risks at industrial scale. The catalyst is recyclable and selective for alkenes, leaving other functional groups untouched. The reaction works by embedding iron in a polymeric carbon nitride scaffold, creating an environment that can snap the oxygen off CO2 and transfer it to an alkene. This produces ketones or carboxylic acids. The team confirmed the oxygen in the products comes from CO2 using isotopic labeling. While the current process uses toxic chloroform as a solvent and produces toxic byproducts, the researchers are already working with industrial partners to scale up and green the process.
