Constructing Substituted‐Pyridine‐Linked Conjugated Porous Polymers via Multicomponent Hantzsch‐Type Reaction for Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis from Real Seawater and Air

ABSTRACT Conjugated porous polymers (CPPs) have emerged as promising organo‐based semiconducting materials for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion due to their customizable structures and functionalities. Exploring diverse synthetic routes provides a strong driving force to promote the development of this intriguing class of photocatalysts. Herein, we report a multicomponent reaction (MCR)‐based strategy to construct photoactive CPPs with precisely engineered donor–acceptor architectures. Utilizing a Hantzsch‐type three‐component condensation, a new family of pyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitrile‐linked CPPs (HCPPs) was synthesized, wherein β‐ketonitrile‐derived building units are strategically incorporated to generate electron‐deficient heterocyclic linkages that serve as intrinsic acceptors. The resulting materials exhibit exceptional photophysical properties and enable efficient non‐sacrificial hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) photosynthesis. Notably, HCPP‐1, bearing a thiophene‐based donor, achieves a remarkable H 2 O 2 production rate of 5230 µmol g −1 h −1 under visible light in pure water/oxygen, and maintains high performance (4850 µmol g −1 h −1 ) even under simulated sunlight using real seawater and ambient air, outperforming the vast majority of reported photocatalysts. Mechanistic studies reveal spatially separated redox centers that synergistically drive an indirect two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and a four‐electron water oxidation reaction (WOR). This MCR‐enabled design opens a general avenue to functional porous semiconductors for advanced solar fuel applications.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Published
2026-08-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.4237539
Primary Topic
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Constructing Substituted‐Pyridine‐Linked Conjugated Porous Polymers via Multicomponent Hantzsch‐Type Reaction for Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis from Real Seawater and Air

Xikai Chen, Ayman Nafady, Abdullah M. Al‐Enizi, Jingmin Ge et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
article

Constructing Substituted‐Pyridine‐Linked Conjugated Porous Polymers via Multicomponent Hantzsch‐Type Reaction for Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis from Real Seawater and Air

Xikai Chen, Ayman Nafady, Abdullah M. Al‐Enizi, Jingmin Ge, Shengqian Ma, Jinyu Liu, Changgui Lv, Yanming Zhao
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conjugated porous polymers (CPPs) have emerged as promising organo‐based semiconducting materials for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion due to their customizable structures and functionalities. Exploring diverse synthetic routes provides a strong driving force to promote the development of this intriguing class of photocatalysts. Herein, we report a multicomponent reaction (MCR)‐based strategy to construct photoactive CPPs with precisely engineered donor–acceptor architectures. Utilizing a Hantzsch‐type three‐component condensation, a new family of pyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitrile‐linked CPPs (HCPPs) was synthesized, wherein β‐ketonitrile‐derived building units are strategically incorporated to generate electron‐deficient heterocyclic linkages that serve as intrinsic acceptors. The resulting materials exhibit exceptional photophysical properties and enable efficient non‐sacrificial hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) photosynthesis. Notably, HCPP‐1, bearing a thiophene‐based donor, achieves a remarkable H 2 O 2 production rate of 5230 µmol g −1 h −1 under visible light in pure water/oxygen, and maintains high performance (4850 µmol g −1 h −1 ) even under simulated sunlight using real seawater and ambient air, outperforming the vast majority of reported photocatalysts. Mechanistic studies reveal spatially separated redox centers that synergistically drive an indirect two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and a four‐electron water oxidation reaction (WOR). This MCR‐enabled design opens a general avenue to functional porous semiconductors for advanced solar fuel applications.

Angewandte Chemie International Edition
University of North Texas (US), King Saud University (SA), Zhengzhou University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Openalex Percentile: Top 22%
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.