Sustainable visible light assisted in situ hydrogenation via a magnesium-water system catalyzed by a Pd-g-C3N4 photocatalyst

A non-hazardous and relatively mild protocol was formulated for an effectual hydrogen generation process via a magnesium-activated water system with a Pd-g-C3N4 photocatalyst under visible light at room temperature. Water functions photochemically as a hydrogen donor without any external source with the Pd-g-C3N4 photocatalyst. The synthesized Pd-g-C3N4 photocatalyst is highly efficient under visible light for the selective reduction of a wide range of unsaturated derivatives and nitro compounds to afford excellent yields (>99%). The photocatalyst Pd-g-C3N4 could be easily recovered and reused for several runs without any deactivation during the photochemical hydrogen transfer reaction process.