Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks photocatalyst for nitrogen atom insertion to construct isoquinolines

Nitrogen atom insertion into double bonds provides an efficient strategy for constructing isoquinoline skeletons. Currently reported photocatalytic strategies are limited by the low oxidation potentials of homogeneous photosensitizers, restricting their applicability to electron-deficient substrates. Herein, a HOF nanomaterial is fabricated via hydrogen-bonded self-assembly and exhibits favorable catalytic activity and recyclability. Under visible-light irradiation and 1 atm O 2 conditions, HOF efficiently promotes nitrogen insertion reactions to synthesize isoquinolines, with no obvious loss of activity after eight recyclings. Owing to the high oxidation potential of the HOF, electron-deficient substrates can be tolerated. Further investigations confirm that O 2 •– reduced from O 2 by photogenerated electrons is the key reactive oxygen species for C C bond cleavage. This work provides a highly efficient and recyclable HOF nano-photocatalyst for isoquinolines synthesis through nitrogen atom insertion.