Cooperative hydrogen production and C−C coupling organic synthesis in one photoredox cycle

Abstract Coupling hydrogen fuel production with selective oxidative organic synthesis in one cooperative manner offers a promising avenue to enable efficient utilization of photoexcited carriers to achieve sustainable chemistry. Herein, a new Mo2N/Mn0.3Cd0.7S/CoPi photocatalyst is reported for visible-light-driven hydrogen production paired with selectively oxidative C C bond formation. Mo2N acting as electron collectors and reduction sites are adsorbed on the Mn0.3Cd0.7S by interfacial Mo-S bond, while CoPi acting as hole collectors and active sites for oxidation reaction are deposited on Mo2N/Mn0.3Cd0.7S. Remarkably, the synergetic effect of Mo2N and CoPi dual cocatalysts results in the adjustable flexibility of switching benzaldehyde (BAD) production to C C coupling synthesis, thus exhibiting the high selectivity of C C coupling products. Mechanism studies indicate that the C C coupling reaction occurs through a free radical mechanism. The present work gives insight for achieving highly efficient C−C coupling synthesis with hydrogen evolution by loading dual cocatalysts.