Using a newly designed porphyrin photocatalyst based on triptycene to emulate natural photosynthesis for regioselective fixation of NAD(P)+ to NAD(P)H and synthesis of value-added chemicals†

This work explores a novel porphyrin photocatalyst based on triptycene, designed to replicate natural photosynthesis and facilitate regioselective fixation of NAD(P)⁺ to NAD(P)H and convert organic molecules into value-added chemicals. By leveraging the unique structural characteristics of triptycene, the photocatalyst amplifies light absorption and expedites electron transfer processes. The system exhibits a high selectivity for NAD(P)⁺ reduction under visible light irradiation, enabling the efficient production of NAD(P)H with low by-product formation. Additionally, the photocatalyst effectively catalyses the conversion of a variety of organic substrates into useful, underexplored motifs in medicine, demonstrating notable increases in yield and reaction efficiency in comparison with those of conventional techniques. This study contributes to the development of green technologies that emulate the effectiveness of natural photosynthesis, highlighting the potential of manufactured photocatalytic systems to promote sustainable chemical transformations. These results highlight the potential of porphyrin photocatalysts based on triptycene for advancing the field of photochemical catalysis and organic synthesis.