Highly selective in-situ prepared g-C3N4/P-B composite photocatalyst for direct C-H bond arylation and NADH regeneration cofactor under solar light

Metal-free photocatalysis is a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of transforming solar energy into molecules with added value. A light-harvesting photocatalyst without metal Phloxin-B (P-B) in-situ edge functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) was assembled to enable the solar-light responsive photocatalytic C-H bond arylation and NADH regeneration cofactor. The photocatalytic performance was examined to estimate the C-H bond arylation and NADH regeneration efficiency by g-C₃N₄/P-B composite photocatalyst. The charge carrier transfer of g-C₃N₄ was found to be stimulated by the light harvester P-B layer, increasing the efficiency of chemical synthesis under solar light irradiation. In light of this, the g-C₃N₄/P-B composite photocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic activity for the successful C-H bond arylation (98.6%) and regeneration of NADH (70.7%). This composite photocatalyst was characterized by FTIR and UV-visible spectrum along with particle size analysis, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). This effort offers a new and superficial technique to synthesize a highly efficient g-C₃N₄/P-B composite photocatalyst and afford a greener path for renewable energy and photocatalytic reactions.

Graphical abstract

The graphical abstract represents the highly selective g-C₃N₄/P-B photocatalyst for the C-H bond activation of 4-bromoaryldiazonium salts with furan and regeneration of NADH under solar light irradiation. The g-C₃N₄/P-B photocatalyst has been effective photocatalytic property due stacking of Phloxin-B dye (P-B) on the g-C₃N₄ sheet. NADH regenerated and C-H bond arylated products are used as substrates in the pharma industries.