Application of Ag/TFPG-DMB COF in carbamates synthesis via CO2 fixation reaction and one-pot reductive N-formylation of nitroarenes under sunlight

Abstract

We have designed mesoporous AgNPs decorated COF (Ag/TFPG-DMB COF) nanomaterial which has been formed by an easy ex-situ synthetic method. The synthesized material is characterized by FTIR, PXRD, UV–vis, N2 adsorption–desorption studies, TEM, FESEM and XPS. The material showed the generation of identical mesopore at 3.9 nm. It is observed that the material can perform as both thermally and photochemically active catalyst for carbamate synthesis and one-pot reduction and N-formylation of nitroarenes respectively. The catalytic activity of the Ag/ TFPG-DMB COF nanomaterial is checked for green synthesis of carbamates from different amines and alcohols under 1 atmospheric pressure of CO2 with excellent yield (upto 95 %) as well as with high TOF value (182 h−1) and high selectivity. Additionally, the Ag/ TFPG-DMB COF nanomaterial is also applied as a potentially active photocatalyst for one-pot nitroarene reduction along with N-formylation reaction under sunlight irradiation in green reaction conditions with exceptionally high yield of formylated products upto 99 % as well as with high TOF value (762 h −1). The catalyst efficiently reduced and formylated para-nitrophenol, a potential water pollutant, which elaborates its scope as an efficient catalyst for water purification also. The catalyst recyclability is also checked for five reaction cycles for both the reactions and the Ag/TFPG-DMB COF material showed outstanding recycling ability without any noticeable leaching of active metal or catalyst degradation.