Phosphorus-doped TiO2 for visible light-driven oxidative coupling of benzyl amines and photodegradation of phenol

•Boric acid-induced hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate at room temperature is developed to prepare TiO2.•The impacts of phosphorous content and calcination temperature on photocatalytic performance are researched.•Orthophosphate species covalently bonding to the titania surface facilitate the adsorption of oxygen molecular.