Noelle Watson

Area of research

Materials Chemistry · Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Research interest

Research topics from publications: Phenalenannulations: Three‐Point Double Annulation Reactions that Convert Benzenes into Pyrenes; Metal ion linked multilayers on mesoporous substrates: Energy/electron transfer, photon upconversion, and more; Assessing Carbazole Derivatives as Single-Electron Photoreductants; Molecular Z-Scheme for Solar Fuel Production via Dual Photocatalytic Cycles; Role of Metal Ion-Linked Multilayer Thickness and Substrate Porosity in Surface Loading, Diffusion, and Solar Energy Conversion; Molecular Z-Scheme for H2 Production via Dual Photocatalytic Cycles. Representative work: Abstract 3‐Point annulations, or phenalenannulations, transform a benzene ring directly into a substituted pyrene by “wrapping” two new cycles around the perimeter of the central ring at three consecutive carbon atoms. This efficient, modular, and general method for π‐extension opens access to non‐symmetric pyrenes and their expanded analogues. Potentially, this approach can convert any aromatic ring bearing a ‐CH 2 Br or a ‐CHO group into a pyrene moiety. Depending upon the workup choices, the process can be directed towards either tin‐ or iodo‐substituted product formation, giving complementary choices for further various cross‐coupling reactions. The two‐directional bis‐double annulation The electron-donating capabilities of carbazoles have stimulated interest in their use as photoinduced single-electron reductants. Due to the modularity of the carbazole, a further broadening and understanding of their reactivity could be achieved by manipulating the structure. Herein, eight carbazole derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and assessed as single-electron photoreductants in the hydrodehalogenation of aryl halides and the arylation of N-methylpyrrole