mpg-C3N4-Catalyzed Selective Oxidation of Alcohols Using O2 and Visible Light

Abstract

Mesoporous carbon nitride (mpg-C₃N₄) polymer can function as a metal-free photocatalyst to activate O₂ for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols with visible light, avoiding the cost, toxicity, and purification problems associated with corresponding transition-metal systems. By combining the surface basicity and semiconductor functions of mpg-C₃N₄, the photocatalytic system can realize a high catalytic selectivity to generate benzaldehyde. The metal-free photocatalytic system also selectively converts other alcohol substrates to their corresponding aldehydes/ketones, demonstrating a potential pathway of accessing traditional mild radical chemistry with nitroxyl radicals.