A visible-light-photocatalytic water-splitting strategy for sustainable hydrogenation/deuteration of aryl chlorides

Hydrogenation/deuteration of carbon chloride(C–Cl) bonds is of high significance but remains a remarkable challenge in synthetic chemistry,especially using safe and inexpensive hydrogen donors.In this article,a visible-light-photocatalytic watersplitting hydrogenation technology(WSHT) is proposed to in-situ generate active H-species(i.e.,Had) for controllable hydrogenation of aryl chlorides instead of using flammable H_2.When applying heavy water-splitting systems,we could selectively install deuterium at the C–Cl position of aryl chlorides under mild conditions for the sustainable synthesis of high-valued added deuterated chemicals.Sub-micrometer Pd nanosheets(Pd NSs) decorated crystallined polymeric carbon nitrides(CPCN) is developed as the bifunctional photocatalyst,whereas Pd NSs not only serve as a cocatalyst of CPCN to generate and stabilize H(D)-species but also play a significant role in the sequential activation and hydrogenation/deuteration of C–Cl bonds.This article highlights a photocatalytic-WSHT for controllable hydrogenation/deuteration of low-cost aryl chlorides,providing a promising way for the photosynthesis of high-valued added chemicals instead of the hydrogen evolution.