Orthogonal Dual Photocatalysis of Single Atoms on Carbon Nitrides for One-Pot Relay Organic Transformation

Abstract

Single-atom photocatalysis has shown potential in various single-step organic transformations, but its use in multistep organic transformations in one reaction systems has rarely been achieved. Herein, we demonstrate atomic site orthogonality in the M₁/C₃N₄ system (where M = Pd or Ni), enabling a cascade photoredox reaction involving oxidative and reductive reactions in a single system. The system utilizes visible-light-generated holes and electrons from C₃N₄, driving redox reactions (e.g., oxidation and fluorination) at the surface of C₃N₄ and facilitating cross-coupling reactions (e.g., C-C and C-O bond formation) at the metal site. The concept is generalized to different systems of Pd and Ni, thus making the catalytic site-orthogonal M₁/C₃N₄ system an ideal photocatalyst for improving the efficiency and selectivity of multistep organic transformations.