Synthesis of a polyisobutylene-tagged fac-Ir(ppy)3 complex and its application as recyclable visible-light photocatalyst in a continuous flow process

The facile synthesis and application of a polyisobutylene-polymer-tagged, iridium(III) photocatalyst is described. The catalytic performance of this complex remains consistently high, while the installed tether allows for its convenient separation from reaction products through a thermomorphic solvent system. Excellent recycling properties were observed both in batch and in flow reactions, and especially in the latter the continuous, automatic recovery and reuse of the catalyst either from a mono-or a biphasic reaction solution is realised, making this approach attractive for large-scale applications.