Dual‐Synergistic S‐Scheme Heterojunction for Targeting Dibenzylamine via Cascade Photoredox Catalysis of Benzylamine

Abstract Photocatalysis integrates oxidation and reduction processes, offering significant potential for driving synthetic transformations under mild conditions. However, the development of light‐driven redox cascade reactions—essential for expanding reaction diversity—remains challenging and unexplored. In this study, a semiconductor cluster‐based S‐scheme heterojunction, T4‐CdCu/ZIS , is designed for the photocatalytic redox cascade conversion of benzylamine (BA) to dibenzylamine (DBA) under a CO 2 atmosphere. The heterojunction operates via a dual internal‐external synergy. Internally, Fermi level‐engineered synergy enhances charge transfer kinetics, enabling rapid carrier separation and suppressed recombination while preserving favorable redox potentials. Externally, this internal synergy drives the tandem oxidation of BA to N ‐benzylbenzaldimine (BBAD) and its subsequent reduction to DBA, facilitated by a tight interface and highly exposed clusters. Consequently, exceptional photocatalytic BA conversion is achieved, yielding a record production rate of 8.31 mmol·g −1 ·h −1 with complete DBA selectivity. Mechanistic investigations suggest that BA undergoes dehydrocoupling on oxidative ZIS to form the BBAD intermediate, which then migrates to T4‐CdCu for reduction to DBA via adsorbed H species. As proof‐of‐concept, a drug, Cinacalcet , exemplifies the synthesis potential of secondary amines. This work provides a sustainable route for synthesizing secondary amines and inspires the design of advanced heterojunction catalysts for efficient redox cascade reactions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2025-11-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202518681
Primary Topic
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
Type
article
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article

Dual‐Synergistic S‐Scheme Heterojunction for Targeting Dibenzylamine via Cascade Photoredox Catalysis of Benzylamine

Zhuoru Liang, Chao Chen, Bingzhe Wang, Shang‐Fu Yuan et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
article

Dual‐Synergistic S‐Scheme Heterojunction for Targeting Dibenzylamine via Cascade Photoredox Catalysis of Benzylamine

Zhuoru Liang, Chao Chen, Bingzhe Wang, Shang‐Fu Yuan, Tao Wu, Dong‐Sheng Li, Xiangli Zhong, Jiaxing Liu, Jia‐Xin Liu, Pei‐Lin Ou
article en

Abstract

Abstract Photocatalysis integrates oxidation and reduction processes, offering significant potential for driving synthetic transformations under mild conditions. However, the development of light‐driven redox cascade reactions—essential for expanding reaction diversity—remains challenging and unexplored. In this study, a semiconductor cluster‐based S‐scheme heterojunction, T4‐CdCu/ZIS , is designed for the photocatalytic redox cascade conversion of benzylamine (BA) to dibenzylamine (DBA) under a CO 2 atmosphere. The heterojunction operates via a dual internal‐external synergy. Internally, Fermi level‐engineered synergy enhances charge transfer kinetics, enabling rapid carrier separation and suppressed recombination while preserving favorable redox potentials. Externally, this internal synergy drives the tandem oxidation of BA to N ‐benzylbenzaldimine (BBAD) and its subsequent reduction to DBA, facilitated by a tight interface and highly exposed clusters. Consequently, exceptional photocatalytic BA conversion is achieved, yielding a record production rate of 8.31 mmol·g −1 ·h −1 with complete DBA selectivity. Mechanistic investigations suggest that BA undergoes dehydrocoupling on oxidative ZIS to form the BBAD intermediate, which then migrates to T4‐CdCu for reduction to DBA via adsorbed H species. As proof‐of‐concept, a drug, Cinacalcet , exemplifies the synthesis potential of secondary amines. This work provides a sustainable route for synthesizing secondary amines and inspires the design of advanced heterojunction catalysts for efficient redox cascade reactions.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 138(9)
China Three Gorges University (CN), Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
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