We found a gap mode plasmon induced photocatlaytic oxidation of p-alkyl thiophenol (p-AlTP) to p-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA). In contrast to p-AlTP, o-methyl TP and m-methyl TP were not oxidized, indicating preferential reactivity of the para position in TP molecules. Nonetheless, the site selectivity is not always valid in this type of photocatalytic reactions, as o-, m-, and p-MBAl molecules were oxidized to corresponding MBA. With respect to the reaction mechanism, we confirmed that the oxidation of p-MeTP is not induced by thermal heating of the samples up to 373 K. Subtle temperature increase (<10 K) during the gap mode-induced oxidation was also corroborated by the observed Stokes and anti-Stokes scattering intensity of p-MeTP. Oxygen molecules accelerated the oxidation of p-MeTP at room temperature, whereas nitrogen atmosphere generated an intermediate species attributable to p-mercaptobenzyl radical. We further investigated the reaction process using density functional theory.
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