Carbon-doped carbon nitride with improved photocatalytic performance for visible-light-driven Giese reaction

In recent research, there has been significant focus on developing highly efficient photocatalysts for forming C(sp3)-C(sp3) bonds. In this study, a series of carbon-doped carbon nitride (C-CN-x) materials were synthesized through molecular self-assembly and thermal polymerization. The introduction of carbon atoms was found to modulate the band gap, specific surface area, and photoelectric properties of the C-CN-x catalysts. These catalysts were applied in the conjugate addition reaction of 1,3-dioxolane with electron-deficient olefins under blue light irradiation. Among them, C-CN-2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity with a yield of 91 %. Remarkably, a comparable yield was achieved under sunlight exposure. Furthermore, a detailed investigation into the reaction mechanism was conducted. This study provided valuable insights into the design and development of highly efficient photocatalysts for C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation, with potential applications in organic synthesis and green chemistry.