title: Effect of aqueous and ambient atmospheric environments on plasmon-driven selective reduction reactions.
abstract: We successfully realised plasmon-driven selective reduction reactions of 2-amino-5-nitrobenzenethiol (2A-5-NBT) to 3,3'-dimercapto-4,4'-diaminoazobenzene , an azobenzene derivative, using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, and supported by the theoretical calculations. The SERS spectra demonstrated that two 5-nitro groups of 2A-5-NBTs were selectively reduced to the -N=N- chemical bond of 3,3'-dimercapto-4,4'-diaminoazobenzene, whereas the 2-amine group of 2A-5-NBT remained unchanged. Our experimental results revealed that aqueous environments were preferable to ambient atmospheric environments for this selective reduction reaction. The product is very stable in aqueous environments. However, in ambient atmosphere environments, the product is not stable and can revert back to 2A-5-NBT, where the -N=N- chemical bond can be broken by plasmon scissors. The plasmon-induced catalytic reactions in aqueous environments could be used for the efficient synthesis of aromatic azobenzene derivative compounds, which are valuable chemicals that are widely used in the chemical industry as dyes, food additives and drugs.
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Electron, and Ion Beams (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Optoelectronic Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China [2] Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Electron, and Ion Beams (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Optoelectronic Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Maodu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuanzuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mengtao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun