Bio-based hyperbranched polymer-supported oxygeneous graphitic-carbon nitride dot as heterogeneous metal-free solar light photocatalyst for oxidation and reduction reactions

Herein, we describe a bio-based hyperbranched polyurethane-supported oxygeneous graphitic-carbon nitride dot as a robust, efficient and sustainable heterogeneous metal-free photocatalyst for organic transformations. The polymer-supported composite system exhibits solar light-assisted photocatalytic performance in driving oxidation of benzylic alcohols to benzaldehydes and reduction of benzaldehydes to benzylic alcohols, under their respective conditions. The photocatalyst delivers exculsive selectivity towards the corresponding products and high productivity (upto 90%) in both the reactions. The hyperbranched architecture of the polymer and photo-harvesting property of oxygeneous graphitic-carbon nitride nanodots combines effectively to generate a synergistic photocatalytic system. The photocatalyst display good catalytic activity, multiple recyclability, good substrate scope for both the transformations. Hence, the current work projects a sustainable protocol for a solar light-assisted heterogeneous metal-free photocatalytic setup towards oxidation and reduction reactions.