Citation: Tong Yue, Jun-Bo Wang, Xin-Yue Wang, Ming-Yi Huang, Mo Zhang, Zhan-Hui Zhang. Metal-free carbon quantum dots as photocatalyst for phosphonation of undirected heteroaryl compounds[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(8): 112050. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112050 shu

Metal-free carbon quantum dots as photocatalyst for phosphonation of undirected heteroaryl compounds

Tong Yue ^a ,
Jun-Bo Wang ^a ,
Xin-Yue Wang ^a ,
Ming-Yi Huang ^a ,
Mo Zhang ^{b, *,} ,
Zhan-Hui Zhang ^{a, *,}

a.
Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
b.
School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Evaluation, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China

19101691@hebmu.edu.cn

zhanhui@hebtu.edu.cn

Received Date: 23 July 2025
Revised Date: 23 October 2025
Accepted Date: 31 October 2025
Available Online: 3 November 2025

Figures(15)

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, utilizing citric acid and urea as precursor materials. Through a systematic characterization and evaluation process, the N-CDs variant with the highest amino group density was identified as an outstanding metal-free photocatalyst. Under ambient conditions, this photocatalyst exhibited remarkable catalytic performance in promoting visible-light-driven cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions between heteroaryl substrates and a wide range of H-phosphine oxide derivatives. This methodology presents several noteworthy advantages, such as operational stability and recyclability of the photocatalyst system, compatibility with various functional groups, mild reaction parameters, scalability for practical applications, and eco-friendly implementation using a mixed solvent system composed of 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (2-Me THF) and water as the solvent medium. The developed protocol demonstrates enhanced process sustainability through its combination of environmental benignity and technical practicality.
- Photocatalysis,
- Carbon dots,
- Cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction Phosphinoylation,
- 2-Methyl tetrahydrofuran
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