Phenazine-Based Homogeneous Photocatalysts for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes Under Mild Conditions

Phenazine derivatives are promising metal-free chromophores with strong redox and photophysical properties, yet their use in photocatalytic hydrogenation remains limited. Here, we report a homogeneous phenazine-based system for the visible-light-driven hydrogenation of nitroarenes under mild conditions. Using nitrobenzene as a model substrate and triethanolamine as a sacrificial hydrogen source, the photocatalyst achieved aniline yields of up to 81% after 12 h of irradiation at 390 nm. Systematic variation in reaction parameters revealed that catalyst structure, solvent, and light wavelength strongly influence performance. Kinetic analysis indicated that prolonged irradiation reduces overall yield due to the reconversion of reactive intermediates. The system exhibited higher efficiency toward nitroarenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups, while aliphatic nitro compounds underwent only partial reduction. Mechanistic studies using UV–Vis, fluorescence, and EPR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of persistent radical species and supported a stepwise electron and proton transfer mechanism. This work showcases the potential of phenazine-based photocatalysts as metal-free platforms for nitroarene reduction under visible light.