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Photoreduction of methyl viologen in aqueous neutral solution without additives

Nature volume 298, pages 545–548 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Methyl viologen (paraquat; 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-dipyridinium dichloride; MV2+(Cl−)2) has been of great interest not only for its herbicidal activity1, but also for its use as an electron relay in photochemical systems designed for solar energy conversion2–12. In both cases principal attention has been directed towards the reduced species, that is the radical cation MV+Cl− which can be generated through the photosensitized reduction of MV2+(Cl−)2. Such reduction can be achieved in vivo by the photosynthetic system1 or in vitro by Ru (II) tris-bipyridine derivatives2–6, porphyrins7–9, proflavine10 and other aromatic compounds12–14. Direct photoreduction of MV2+(Cl−)2 has been widely investigated in the presence of alcohols15–18 and has also been noted in alkaline19 and acid20 solutions. Solid phase photoreduction of MV2+(Cl−)2 on cellulose involving the oxidation of the substrate has recently been reported21. We describe here the direct photoreduction of methyl viologen in neutral aqueous solution to give the complex MV+Cl−2. This is potentially important for the understanding of the herbicidal activity of methyl viologen. It also suggests an explanation for the photoreduction process of methyl viologen in alcohols and a possible extension of the role of methyl viologen in the photochemical conversion of solar energy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556, USA

    Thomas W. Ebbesen, Gerrit Levey & Larry K. Patterson

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  1. Thomas W. Ebbesen
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  2. Gerrit Levey
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  3. Larry K. Patterson
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Ebbesen, T., Levey, G. & Patterson, L. Photoreduction of methyl viologen in aqueous neutral solution without additives. Nature 298, 545–548 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298545a0

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