催化学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 88: 183-206.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65144-3

• 综述 • 上一篇    下一篇

氧中心有机自由基最新研究进展: 表征、合成及应用

刘淑芳a,1, 陈锋宇a,1, 李思媛a, 叶宇昕a,*(), 欧阳钢锋a,b,*()   

  1. a 中山大学化学工程与技术学院, 绿色化学与分子工程研究院, 水产动物疫病防控与健康养殖全国重点实验室, 南方海洋科学与工程广东省实验室(珠海), 广东珠海 519082
    b 中山大学化学学院, 生物无机与合成化学教育部重点实验室, Lehn功能材料研究所, 绿色化学与分子工程研究院, 广东广州 510275
  • 收稿日期:2025-12-20 接受日期:2026-02-22 出版日期:2026-09-18 发布日期:2026-09-05
  • 通讯作者: *电子信箱: yeyuxin5@mail.sysu.edu.cn (叶宇昕),
    cesoygf@mail.sysu.edu.cn (欧阳钢锋).
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(22336007);国家自然科学基金(22422611);国家自然科学基金(22206209);南方海洋科学与工程广东省实验室(珠海)(SML2024SP003);广东省功能分子工程重点实验室基础研究卓越中心项目(31000-42080002)

Recent advances in oxygen-centered organic radicals: Characterization, synthesis, and applications

Shufang Liua,1, Fengyu Chena,1, Siyuan Lia, Yu-Xin Yea,*(), Gangfeng Ouyanga,b,*()   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), IGCME, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, Guangdong, China
    b Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, LIFM, School of Chemistry, IGCME, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2025-12-20 Accepted:2026-02-22 Online:2026-09-18 Published:2026-09-05
  • About author:Yu-Xin Ye (School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University) received her B.S. degree from Sun Yat-sen University in 2011 and Ph.D. degree in 2017. From 2018 to 2023, she conducted postdoctoral research under the supervision of Professor Ouyang Gangfeng. She joined the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology at Sun Yat-sen University in 2023. She is Excellent Young Scientists of National Natural Science Foundation of China (2024). She has published over 20 papers as the first or corresponding author in prestigious journals such as Nat. Water., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., Adv. Mater., Chin. J. Catal., Nat. Commun., and Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Her research focuses on the design of novel organic photocatalysts, the characterization and regulation of photophysical and photochemical processes, photocatalytic synthesis and application of hydrogen peroxide, and photocatalytic degradation of environmental pollutants.
    Gangfeng Ouyang (School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University) received his B.S. degree from Sichuan University in 1992 and his M.S. degree from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University in 1995. He subsequently joined the faculty of the same school at Sun Yat-sen University, first as a Teaching Assistant and then as a Lecturer. He earned his Ph.D. degree from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University in 2003. He then pursued postdoctoral research in Professor Pawliszyn Janusz's group at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He is Distinguished Young Scholars Recipients of National Natural Science Foundation of China (2012). Professor Ouyang has authored/co-authored over 320 SCI-indexed publications in prestigious journals such as Chem. Rev., PNAS, Chem., Nat. Commun., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Chem. Sci., Anal. Chem., and Environ. Sci. Technol., with over 8,000 citations. His research primarily focuses on environmental analytical chemistry and microextraction techniques, with applications in water analysis, in vivo analysis in plants and animals, and medical diagnostics. His research interests include environmental analytical chemistry, environmental pollution control, and bioanalysis.
    First author contact: 共同第一作者.
    Contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    The National Natural Science Foundation of China(22336007);The National Natural Science Foundation of China(22422611);The National Natural Science Foundation of China(22206209);The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)(SML2024SP003);The Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Functional Molecular Engineering Project(31000-42080002)

摘要:

近年来, 传统活性氧物种(ROS)虽具有高反应活性, 却因选择性差、易引发底物过度矿化、寿命短暂(微秒至毫秒级)且依赖捕获剂检测等固有局限, 难以满足精准氧化过程对可控性的要求. 与之形成鲜明对比的是, 氧中心有机自由基(OCORs)凭借其未配对电子在π-共轭体系中的高度离域, 获得了显著的动力学稳定性, 使其寿命由分钟级延长至数年, 且无需捕获剂即可直接检测. 更重要的是, OCORs兼具高反应活性与可调的氧化还原特性, 不仅可作为选择性氧化的关键中间体, 还能通过结构转化在自然及人工光催化系统中发挥高效的电子介导作用. 这种兼具稳定性与可调控性的电子构型, 使其在光合作用模拟、环境修复等诸多前沿领域展现出广阔的应用前景.
本文系统介绍了OCORs的表征方法、前驱体合成策略及其在光催化领域的研究进展. 首先, 从经典的基于醌/氢醌氧化还原过程的芳氧自由基和半醌型自由基出发, 梳理了OCORs的发展脉络, 阐述了其未配对电子离域于扩展π共轭体系所赋予的独特电子结构. 在表征方法上, OCORs的鉴定需采用多技术联用策略: 电子顺磁共振可提供最直接的自由基证据, 但常需结合自由基捕获实验进行定性确认; 氧气消耗测试可作为间接表征手段; 电化学方法与原位振动光谱有助于解析反应机理与中间体结构; 而密度泛函理论计算则为OCORs的指认提供理论支撑. 这种多模式协同方法突破了单一技术的局限, 是实现OCORs精准鉴定的关键. 在前驱体合成策略方面, 本文归纳了以醌类和蒽醌类化合物为前体, 通过Suzuki-Miyaura偶联、Sonogashira-Hagihara偶联、Buchwald-Hartwig胺化及酚醛缩合等反应构筑OCORs前驱体的模块化合成路线. 在光催化应用领域, OCORs作为关键活性中间体展现出多方面的优异性能: 在光催化合成过氧化氢、二氧化碳还原制备高附加值化学品等反应中, OCORs可显著提升催化效率; 在环境修复领域, OCORs作为长寿命中间体参与水体酚类污染物降解, 兼具高选择性与高效性; 在光催化杀菌方面, 可实现低光强下细菌的高效失活; 在有机合成中, 凭借其优异的电子转移能力, 成功应用于C(sp3)-H键光氧化反应的选择性调控. 上述研究进展为OCORs在能源、环境和合成化学领域的应用奠定了坚实基础. 尽管OCORs在光催化领域前景广阔, 其发展仍面临如何精准光生电荷转移路径以提高OCORs的生成选择性、延长OCORs在反应体系中的寿命、拓展人工光合作用及环境修复等新应用体系, 以及实现催化剂的规模化制备与运行稳定性等多重挑战. 破解上述难题, 是深化自由基光化学认知、推动高效光催化体系应用的关键.
综上, 本文系统总结了OCORs的表征方法、合成策略、光催化应用及现存挑战, 以期引发研究人员的深入思考. 未来发展方向应聚焦于OCORs的精准生成与稳定性提升, 积极开拓人工光合作用与环境修复等新体系, 并攻克规模化制备难题, 加速其走向实际应用.

关键词: 氧中心有机自由基, 光催化, 过氧化氢, 二氧化碳还原, 污染物降解

Abstract:

In recent years, oxygen-centered organic radicals (OCORs) have garnered significant attention for their pivotal roles across diverse chemical and material science platforms. As a unique class of open-shell molecules, OCORs exhibit remarkable stability and highly tunable reactivity, enabling innovative possibilities for organic transformations and the design of advanced functional materials. Unlike conventional short-lived radicals, OCORs can maintain their stability for several months in complex environmental conditions while showcasing exceptional efficiency in catalytic processes. Their versatility extends to a range of applications, including environmental remediation, redox-active materials, and next-generation energy systems. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in OCORs research, focusing on their characterization techniques, synthesis methods, and applications in electronic structure modulation and functional material design. Additionally, it highlights key challenges such as enhancing stability, selectivity, and scalability while proposing future research directions. These insights aim to foster deeper understanding and innovation, propelling the development of OCORs for broader scientific and industrial applications.

Key words: Oxygen-centered organic radicals, Photocatalysis, Hydrogen peroxide, Carbon dioxide reduction, Pollutant degradation