A novel and efficient route for aryl ketones generation over Co3O4/Ag@C3N4 photocatalyst

Aryl ketones are ubiquitous structural motifs in organic synthesis. Nonetheless, the traditional methods for their generation are often costly and not environment-friendly. Herein we report a novel and efficient route for the preparation of aryl ketones by photocatalysis at mild conditions. Porous C3N4 nanorods decorated with spatially separated Ag and Co3O4 nanoparticles on the interior and exterior surface of C(3)N(4)( )hollow sphere (Co3O4/Ag@C3N4) fabricated by a facile method of supramolecular self-assembly. Using this porous material as photocatalyst and O-2 as oxidant, aryl ketones could efficiently generate (with a yield up to 75.7% and selectivity to 97%) via toluene and halobenzene under visible-light irradiation at room temperature. The present study not only provides an inexpensive strategy for aryl ketones generation but also an effective tactic for activation of sp(3 )C-H bonds under mild conditions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.