Copper Cocatalyst Modulated Radical Generation for Selective Heterogeneous Photosynthesis of ?-Haloketones

The alpha-haloketones are important precursors for synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical applications; however, their production relies heavily on traditional synthetic methods via halogenation of ketones that are toxic and environmentally risky. Here, we report a heterogeneous photosynthetic strategy of alpha-haloketone production from aromatic olefins using copper-modified graphitic carbon nitride (Cu-C3N4) under mild reaction conditions. By employing NiX2 (X = Cl, Br) as the halogen source, a series of alpha-haloketones can be synthesized using atmospheric air as the oxidant under visible-light irradiation. In comparison with pristine carbon nitride, the addition of Cu as a cocatalyst provides a moderate generation rate of halogen radicals and selective reduction of molecular oxygen into center dot OOH radicals, thus leading to a high selectivity to alpha-haloketones. The Cu- C3N4 also exhibits high stability and versatility, rendering it a promising candidate for solar-driven synthetic applications.