Light-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production Using Amphiphilic Organic Chromophores in a Two-Phase System

This thesis presents a sustainable, decentralized, and light-driven platform to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through a biphasic water/benzyl alcohol system. The approach relies on a custom-synthesized amphiphilic chromophore, inspired by the structure of vitamin B₂ (riboflavin), which serves as the organic photocatalyst. Owing to its dual hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature, this conjugated molecule spontaneously localizes at the aqueous–organic interface. Under visible light irradiation, the flavin photocatalyst drive a redox photocatalytic cycle where benzyl alcohol serves as the sacrificial electron donor. Under irradiation, this interfacial mechanism promotes the partial oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, an added-value chemical, while simultaneously reducing molecular oxygen to superoxide ions. The optimized system achieves up to 90% conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, along with a maximum hydrogen peroxide concentration of 50 mM. Overall, this methodology offers a zero-waste platform for green photochemistry, combining the production of a mild oxidant with the concomitant synthesis of an industrially relevant intermediate under mild and sustainable conditions.