Elucidating heterogeneous photocatalytic superiority of microporous porphyrin organic cage.

The investigation on the catalytic properties of porous organic cages is still in an initial stage. Herein, the reaction of cyclohexanediamine with 5,15-di[3’,5’-diformyl(1,1’-biphenyl)]porphyrin affords a porphyrin tubular organic cage, PTC-1(2H). Transient absorption spectroscopy in solution reveals much prolonged triplet lifetime of PTC-1(2H) relative to monomer reference, illustrating the unique photophysical behavior of cagelike photosensitizer. The long triplet lifetime ensures high-efficiency singlet oxygen evolution according to homogeneous photo-bleach experiment, electron spin-resonance spectroscopy, and aerobic photo-oxidation of benzylamine. Furthermore, microporous supramolecular framework of PTC-1(2H) is able to promote the heterogeneous photo-oxidation of various primary amines with conversion efficiency above 99% under visible light irradiation. These results indicate the great application potentials of porous organic cages in heterogeneous phase. The investigation on the catalytic properties of porous organic cages is still in an initial stage. Herein, the heterogeneous photocatalytic superiority of microporous porphyrin organic cage has been clearly elucidated due to unique cage-induced long triplet lifetime and porous structure.