Visible‐Light‐Promoted Efficient Aerobic Dehydrogenation of N‐Heterocycles by a Tiny Organic Semiconductor Under Ambient Conditions

Abstract

An efficient reusable catalytic system has been developed based on perylene diimide (PDI) organic semiconductor for the aerobic dehydrogenation of N‐heterocycles with visible light. This practical catalytic system without any additives proceeds under ambient conditions. The minute aggregates of PDI molecules on the surface of SiO2 nanospheres form tiny organic semiconductors, resulting in high‐efficiency photo‐oxidative activity. Notably, the robustness of this method is demonstrated by the synthesis of a wide range of N‐heteroarenes, gram‐scale experiments as well as reusability tests.