Studies of the antenna effect in polymer molecules: 24. solar photosynthesis of previtamin D3 in aqueous solutions of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-2-vinylnaphthalene)

Solar light was used to examine the photochemical phase in the synthesis of vitamin D3 in an aqueous solution of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-2-vinylnaphthalene) (PSSS-VN), to introduce the use of photoenzymes as microphotoreactors. Solar energy was applied to initiate useful and specific syntheses of organic compounds in water solution. The pendant naphthalene chromophores in the copolymer photosensitized the photoisomerization of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 through singlet-singlet energy transfer. The triplet-sensitized isomerization of tachysterol to previtamin caused the absence of tachysterol, an important side product developed during photoisomerization in organic solution. The high regional concentration of tachysterol near the energy donors enhances the efficacy of triplet-triplet energy transfer from activated polymeric naphthalene chromophores to tachysterol.