Highly efficient oxidative C–H/C–H cross coupling of xanthines over bimetallic Ni/Ag@titania: The key role of surface polymorphism and mechanism by surface-enhanced Raman scattering

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A new effiecient protocol for the cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of C8(sp2)-H/C(sp2)-H of xanthines and aromatic compounds over nanosized bimetallic Ni/Ag@titania catalyst is presented. The notable properties of Ni/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) facilitate the 2-fold activation of classically inert C(sp2)-H bonds. Molecular level study for the catalyst efficiency was determined, by performing the model reaction between caffeine and vanillin, on different catalysts, synthesised by varying the loading of two component metals, on four polymorphic forms of titania, brookite, rutile, anatase and mesoporous. Among the 63 catalyst systems, 5:1 Ni/Ag@anatase showed excellent catalytic activity in dry DMSO with 88% product formation. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and H2O2 were used as oxidant. The regioselectivity of the CDC reaction depends on the nature of peroxide used. Non-covalent surface π-stacking interaction occurring between peroxide modified titania (PMT) and aromatic ring(s) is the key for the observed regioselectivity. Catalysts were characterised by UV–Vis, FT-IR, powder XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, etc. The catalytic system showed good operational stability, functional group tolerance, robustness and recyclability. We identified the intermediate(s) through real time monitoring of SERS and proposed the most plausible catalytic cycle as well. Further, a possible energy profile diagram involving the transition states was obtained computationally by DFTB calculations. Almost all the products were afforded in good to excellent yields. Thus, the present process constitutes one straightforward and clean approach to a class of much sought organic transformation.