Fabrication of Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Film: An Emerged Highly Efficient Catalyst for Direct C-H Arylation under Solar Light

Main observation and conclusion Photoredox C-H bond formation can proceed in aerobic environment under solar light and has therefore become attractive. Nowadays, different types of expensive novel metal complexes and nanomaterials have been urbanized as photocatalysts for direct C-H bond formation in between derivatives of heteroarenes (HAs) and aryl diazonium salts. These photocatalysts, however, still suffer from poor stability, high cost, and decay. Herein, a graphitic carbon nitride-based fluorescein isothiocyanate (g-C3N4-FITC) film photocatalyst has been reported, which shows excellent light harvesting ability, and band gap suitability to catalyze the metal free direct C-H arylation of HAs under solar light at ambient temperature. Moreover, the g-C3N4-FITC film photocatalyst can be reused four times without significant loss of activity, confirming the excellent photocatalytic stability. The current strategy to construct a g-C3N4-FITC film photocatalyst for direct C-H arylation opens a new path towards replacing metal-based catalysts in fine chemical synthesis.

Automated summary

A graphitic carbon nitride-based fluorescein isothiocyanate (g-C3N4-FITC) film photocatalyst has been developed for direct C-H arylation, showing excellent light harvesting ability, stability, and reusability. This catalyst can effectively catalyze the reaction under solar light at ambient temperature, opening up a new pathway for replacing metal-based catalysts in fine chemical synthesis.