Cover Feature: Organo-Soluble Colloidal MoS2 Quantum Dots (QDs) as an Efficient Photocatalyst for α-Amino Phosphonate Synthesis (ChemCatChem 15/2024)

The Cover Feature of this issue highlights the work by Abir Kayal and Mrinmoy De, who describe a method for synthesizing recyclable organo-soluble MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs) using a colloidal approach, which exhibits high efficiency as photocatalysts for the synthesis of biologically active α-amino phosphonates. The authors’ approach capitalizes on the oxidizing potential of molecular oxygen (O₂). Specifically, MoS₂ QDs are excited upon absorption of blue light, providing the necessary energy to initiate the formation of reactive iminium ion species from N-phenyl benzylamine, thereby facilitating product formation. Mechanistic analysis has underscored the critical role of MoS₂ QDs in generating reactive superoxide radicals from O₂ via single electron transfer (SET), highlighting their significance in this process. More information can be found in the Research Article by Abir Kayal and Mrinmoy De (DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202400264).