Harnessing visible-light energy for unbiased organic photoelectrocatalysis: synthesis of N-bearing fused rings

In this research, we realized the conversion of visible light to electrical energy and C-H activation by the synergistic catalytic effect of visible-light and photoelectric current. An atom-economical and environment-friendly self-biasing interfacial photo-electrocatalytic method for cascade C-H activation/cyclization is provided to construct N-containing fused ring compounds using an m-BiVO4 film as a photoanode. There are obvious advantages of this transformation due to no external bias and a small overpotential, saving electrical energy and avoiding excessive oxidation of malononitrile to achieve better chemical reactivity and selectivity. Meanwhile, the recovered photoanode could be used more than ten times.

Automated summary

This research developed a method for visible light-driven C-H activation and cyclization by utilizing the synergistic catalytic effect of visible light and photoelectric current. The process is atom-economical, environmentally friendly, and the recovered photoanode can be reused more than ten times.