A Fuel-Driven Chemical Reaction Network Based on Conjugate Addition and Elimination Chemistry

Fuel-driven chemical reaction networks provide an opportunity to develop chemical systems that operate out-of-equilibrium. There remains a need to design and develop new fuel-driven chemical reaction networks capable of repeated operation using simple and benign chemistry. Herein, we propose a new chemical reaction network for fuel-driven transient formation of covalent bonds, based on redox-controlled conjugate addition and elimination chemistry. By investigating the separate reactions making up the cycle, we find that the bond formation, breaking and regeneration processes can be realized. At present, substantial side reactivity prevents achieving repeated operation of a full cycle in a single system. If such obstacles would be overcome, this chemical reaction network could be a valuable addition to the toolbox for out-of-equilibrium systems chemistry.