Journal
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
Volume 220, Issue -, Pages 553-560Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.08.057
Keywords
C-C coupling; Photocatalysis; g-C3N4; Alkali modification; Benzoin
Funding
- 973 Program [2013CB933200]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [51472260]
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Benzoin is an important feedstock with high additional value for its extensive use in chemical industry. Benzoin condensation characterized by C-C coupling between benzaldehyde requires the use of nucleophilic catalysts including cyanide or N-heterocyclic carbene and is restricted to organic medium such as MeCN, diethyl ether, etc. Construction of efficient and non-toxic catalysts for benzoin synthesis still remains a challenge. Herein, highly selective (97%) benzoin synthesis from benzyl alcohol was achieved over potassium modified g-C3N4 via light-driven tandem selective oxidation and C-C coupling. The outstanding performance was attributed to alkali modifications on the electronic structure and surface chemical environment of g-C3N4.K+ intercalation not only facilitated the light harvesting as well as the transport of charge carriers, but also induced surface deprotonation of g-C3N4 and thus remarkable nucleophilicity for prompting the C-C coupling reactions. This work sheds light on the design of earth-abundant inorganic photocatalysts for C-C coupling reactions such as the green synthesis of benzoin under ambient conditions.
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