Amphiphilic Polymeric Nanoparticles for Photoredox Catalysis in Water

Photoredox catalysis has recently emerged as a powerful synthesis tool in organic and polymer chemistry. In contrast to the great achievements realized in organic solvents, performing photocatalytic processes efficiently in aqueous media encounters several challenges. Here, it is presented how amphiphilic single‐chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs) can be utilized as small reactors to conduct light‐driven chemical reactions in water. By incorporating a phenothiazine (PTH) catalyst into the polymeric scaffold, metal‐free reduction and C−C cross‐coupling reactions can be carried out upon exposure to UV light under ambient conditions. The versatility of this approach is underlined by a large substrate scope, tolerance towards oxygen, and excellent recyclability. This approach thereby contributes to a sustainable and green way of implementing photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis takes a bath: Single‐chain polymeric nanoparticles are utilized as an efficient and recyclable platform to perform photoredox catalysis in water. The reduction of aryl halides and C−C cross coupling reactions are studied upon UV‐light illumination under ambient conditions.