Reusable Catalyst Research Articles

Highly efficient and reusable nanostructured porous Ni/La2O2CO3 tandem catalyst for hydrogen and methane production from subcritical hydrothermal treatment of nitrocellulose

Chemical conversion of biomass into fuel gas under subcritical water conditions is a crucial step towards a sustainable and carbon–neutral route for energy storage. However, generation of highly selective gas, such as hydrogen and methane, remains a challenge under such conditions. We present here a reusable tandem catalyst, porous nanostructured nickel-exsolved lanthanum oxycarbonate (Ni/La2O2CO3) for nitrocellulose gasification. Hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) production achieves 45.5 % (13.6 mmol) and 9.4 % (2.8 mmol) selectivity, respectively, at 350 ℃, which overwhelms the activity of Raney nickel (41 %,10 mmol and 2.8 %, 0.7 mmol for H2 and CH4, respectively). The study of temperature-dependent structure and the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy further elucidated the origin of its high catalytic efficacy together with the phase change of the catalyst. The reused catalyst after regeneration retains 55 % of its initial activity after five consecutive tests. This study highlights the Ni/La2O2CO3 catalyst that holds significant potential for selective fuel gas generation from various biomass sources.

Utilization of Keplerate-type polyoxomolybdates {Mo132} supported on hierarchical porous SOM-ZIF-8 as reusable catalyst boosts biodiesel production from acidic soybean oils by simultaneous transesterification-esterifications

Improving the reactant mass transfer on the catalyst surface is a feasible approach to fabricate a robust solid catalyst for efficiently promoting the biomass macromolecules-involving reactions, specifically for biodiesel production by using non-edible acidic oils as feedstocks. In this premise, to reduce the mass transfer resistance, the hierarchical porous SOM-ZIF-8 was firstly synthesized using polystyrene spheres (PS) as templates and then employed as catalyst supports for loading of Keplerate-type polyoxomolybdates {Mo132} to prepare a novel {Mo132}@SOM-ZIF-8 solid acid catalyst. The catalyst characterization results revealed that the active species of {Mo132} clusters were well-dispersed on the SOM-ZIF-8 support and the primary framework of the SOM-ZIF-8 support remained nearly unaltered after the preparation processes. This prepared catalyst featured three-dimensional ordered hierarchical porous structure and dual Bronsted-Lewis acid sites, with a large surface area of 736.26 m2/g and high acidity of 903 μmol/g, presenting high activities for concurrent triglyceride transesterification and free fatty acids (FFAs) esterification. With the acidic soybean oils as feedstocks, 93.9 % of oil conversion and full FFA conversion to biodiesel were achieved over this solid catalyst at 130 °C for 8 h with a catalyst loading of 2 wt%, thus imparting the great potential for a one-pot efficient biodiesel manufacture from the acidic oils to comply with the demand of green and clean production. The synergy between the hierarchical porous structure and the strong acidity emerged, thus boosting the catalytic performance of this solid catalyst for the heterogeneous biodiesel production. The good FFA and moisture-resistance capacity was shown for this catalyst even in the case of moisture content of 3 % and FFA content of 25 %. Further, this catalyst showed excellent reusability without significantly losing its catalytic performance even after five runs, providing a deeper insight into constructing efficient solid catalysts with hierarchical porous structure that are utilized for cost-effective production of biodiesel from the non-edible acidic oils.

Construction of Indium(III)-Organic Framework Based on a Flexible Cyclotriphosphazene-Derived Hexacarboxylate as a Reusable Green Catalyst for the Synthesis of Bioactive Aza-Heterocycles.

The constant demand for eco-friendly methods of synthesizing complex organic compounds inspired researchers to design and develop modern, highly efficient heterogeneous catalytic systems. Herein, In-HCPCP metal-organic framework (SRMIST-1), a heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst containing less toxic indium and eco-friendly robust cyclotriphosphazene and exhibiting notable chemical and thermal stability, durable catalytic activity, and exceptional reusability was produced through the reaction between indium(III) nitrate hydrate and hexakis(4-carboxylatophenoxy)-cyclotriphosphazene. In the SRMIST-1 structure, secondary building units {InO7} are assembled by a connection of η2- and η1-carboxylic oxo atoms from different HCPCP ligands, forming a three-dimensional network. The occurrence of regularly distributed In(III) sites in SRMIST-1 confers superior reactivity on the catalyst toward the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxides by the cyclization reaction of 2-aminobenzamides and 2-aminobenzenesulphonamides with aldehydes under optimized reaction conditions, respectively. The notable features of this method include broad functional group compatibility, low catalyst loading (1-5 mol %), mild reaction conditions, easy workup procedures, good to excellent reaction yields, ethanol as a green solvent, reusability of the catalyst (five cycles), and economic attractiveness, which is mainly due to sustainability of SRMIST-1 as a reusable green catalyst. Our findings demonstrate that the highly reactive and reusable green catalyst finds widespread applications in medicinal chemistry.

Pushing the Efficiency of the Selective and Base‐Free Air‐Oxidation of HMF by Varying the Properties of Carbon‐Based Supports

AbstractThe selective oxidation of 5‐(Hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) to 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is highly attractive for the production of renewable monomers as substitute for fossil‐based monomers. To achieve a sustainable synthesis, we report on advances for a base‐free approach, reducing waste from the process, using air as oxidant and heterogeneous catalysts. Various Carbon‐based supports, which can be bio‐sourced and cost‐efficient, for Pt particles were investigated as they allow for an easy reuse and at the end‐of‐life Pt can be recycled to enable a closed cycle. Commercially available supports with varying properties, which might replace the base, were studied with Pt particles of similar size and loading. Significant differences in the catalytic activity were observed, which were correlated with the O‐functionalities and graphitization degree of the supports derived from Raman spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed desorption, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. An activated carbon (Norit ROX) rich in quinone/pyrone‐type groups and a carbon black‐based catalyst with graphene‐layers pushed the efficiency with enhanced FDCA‐yields enabling the complete substitution of the homogeneous base. This allows to circumvent the base in this process which together with high selectivity, air as oxidant, a reusable catalyst, and the use of bio‐based feedstock contributes to the sustainability of the production of renewable monomers.

Solar thermo-photocatalytic methanation using a bifunctional RuO2:TiO2/Z13X photocatalyst/adsorbent material for efficient CO2 capture and conversion

A novel bifunctional photocatalyst/adsorbent material based on the RuO2:TiO2/zeolite 13X (Z13X) composite was developed to enhance solar-driven methanation through simultaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and thermo-photoconversion. The activity/stability of the hybrid material towards methane (CH4) production was assessed by varying the (i) photocatalyst composition (Ru load and semiconductor type), (ii) bifunctional material composition (photocatalyst-to-zeolite ratio) and impregnation method, (iii) illumination source and power (simulated sunlight and UVA/Visible LEDs), (iv) temperature, and (v) catalyst reuse. Additionally, adsorption equilibrium isotherms were determined to characterize the adsorption ability of the bifunctional material for both CO2 and CH4 gases. The hybrid RuO2(4.0%):TiO2(26.3%)/Z13X material (30 mg), synthesised by the solid-state impregnation method, showed the best results under simulated sunlight (0.75 W) at 150 ºC, achieving a 88% CO2 thermo-photoreduction after 100 min, corresponding to a specific CH4 production of 29.2 mmol gactive_cat−1 h−1 (309 mmol gRu−1 h−1) and apparent quantum yield of 20.7%. In adsorption equilibrium isotherms, the bifunctional material's adsorption was about 2.6-fold higher than the photocatalyst at 150 ºC, suggesting that enhanced methanation performance can be attributed to the synergistic action of CO2 capture and thermo-photoconversion.

Production of biodiesel from biocatalysis of agro-wastes in acidic environment

Due to the disposal challenges posed by the availability of agro wastes, nano-catalysts have been reported used the synthesis from the wastes for the biodiesel. Therefore, this study employed the catalyst derived from the acidified corn stock for the synthesis of biodiesel from agricultural waste oilseeds of Carica papaya. The oil was extracted from the seed via a continuous process, the quality of the oil was determined, and the biodiesel was synthesized using nanocatalysts developed from the corn stock. Catalyst characterization was carried out using electric potential charge (ZETA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), x-ray fluorescence (XRF-FS), and brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) analysis. Process optimization was carried out by considering three variables in both the cases of oil extraction and biodiesel production via RSM-BBD and ANN-GA. The produced biodiesel was quantified by property determination, and the catalyst reusability test was carried out to ascertain the strength of the developed catalyst.Results reflected that the seed was rich in oil (44.14 % (wt./wt.)), and the oil was acidic (acid value = 3.680 mg KOH/g Oil). The produced acidified catalyst from corn pods showed the presence of heteroatoms, including mica-phylosilicates in the corn pod, but carbon produced a higher concentration (71.45 %wt.). The validated optimum biodiesel yield of 99.06 % (wt./wt.) at a cat. amount of 3.96 (g), reaction time of 72.42 min, and EOH/OMR of 1:5.99 were recorded. The qualities of biodiesel were in conformity with the biodiesel recommended standard. The catalyst reusability test showed the developed catalyst to possess a stable adsorption capacity, charge imbalance, and non-expanding behavior during transesterification.This study concluded that RSM-BBD with cubic polynomial techniques shows superiority over ANN-GA in conversion of Carica papaya seed oil to biodiesel in a catalytically acidified environment with corn pods, and the produced biodiesel could serve as an alternative environmentally friendly fuel.

Environmentally-friendly preparation of Sn(II)-BDC supported heteropolyacid as a stable and highly efficient catalyst for esterification reaction

Facilitating energy resource deficiency and environmental contamination, this work focuses on sustainable biodiesel production through the esterification reactions of oleic acid (OA) with methanol. To address the reaction, a novel heterogeneous acid catalyst, 12-tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) immobilized on Sn-based MOFs (Sn(II)-BDC) was synthesized via a simple, green solvent, and easy-to-implement synthesis strategy for the first time, and applied effectively for esterification process of OA to produce biodiesel. The structure and composition of as-obtained catalyst have been verified using XRD, FTIR, N2 physisorption, SEM, EDX, TG, Py-FTIR, TPD-NH3, and XPS techniques. The obtained TPA/Sn(II)-BDC catalyst was found to be the best with 60 wt% of TPA loading, which resulted in an OA conversion of 91.7 % at optimized conditions of 0.15 g catalyst loading and methanol to OA molar ratio of 20:1 at temperature of 120 °C in 4 h, and the excellent performance arises from available pores structure, large amounts of acidic sites, good stability and the synergistic catalytic effect of TPA and Sn(II)-BDC. Furthermore, the composite catalyst reusability has been studied for five cycles, and it exhibits an acceptable conversion. This research provides a green and large-scale synthesis route for the sustainable production of biofuels by constructing heteropolyacids/Sn-based MOFs synergistic catalysts.

Seafood waste derived Pt/Chitin nanocatalyst for efficient hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds

The fabrication of reliable, reusable and efficient catalyst is crucial for the conversion of nitroaromatic compounds into more chemically valuable amine-based molecules. In this study, a series of chitin supported platinum (Pt) catalysts with high catalytic activity, stability, and reusability were developed by using chitin derived from seafood waste as raw materials. The catalytic performance differences among these catalysts activated by different methods were investigated by hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds. The results showed that the multilayer hierarchical pore structure and abundance of hydroxyl and acetamido groups in chitin provided ample anchoring sites for Pt nanoparticles (NPs), ensuring the high dispersion of Pt NPs. Moreover, the interconnected channels between chitin nanofibrous microspheres facilitated rapid transport of reaction substrates. The best Pt/Chitin catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and broad substrate applicability in hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds. Significantly, even after 20 runs, no discernible deactivation of activity was observed, demonstrating exceptional catalytic reusability. The application of seafood waste-based catalysts is conducive to the development of a green/sustainable society.

Three components: one-pot synthesis of tetrazoles using silica-supported melamine tri-sulfonic acid, an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst

The effective and straightforward procedure for synthesizing 1-H 1,2,3,4 tetrazole involves the reaction of a primary amine, triethyl orthoformate and sodium azide in the presence of silica-supported melamine tri sulfonic acid. One pot synthesis of tetrazole derivatives over the silica-supported melamine tri sulfonic acid catalyst reveals that the existence of strong acid sites in silica makes it more efficient with respect to the shortening of the reaction time (5–6 h) and excellent yield (75-84%) as compared to the other catalysts. This process includes benefits like a more environmentally friendly path, an easier work-up, a reusable catalyst and a high yield.

Design a new unsymmetrical Schiff base chiral Co-complex containing ionic liquid groups as a reusable green catalyst in the epoxidation of alkenes

Design a new unsymmetrical Schiff base chiral Co-complex containing ionic liquid groups as a reusable green catalyst in the epoxidation of alkenes

Copper and zinc-impregnated mesoporous gamma-alumina catalyst for hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin

The complete utilization of lignocellulose is a sustainable key for bio-refineries, where the utilization of evitable lignin is a great challenge owing to its structural complexity. Here, the effect of Cu and Zn-loaded mesoporous γ-Al2O3 catalysts was examined for the first time for the hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin in an ethanol/water solvent system. It showed excellent performance towards the liquefaction as compared to that of (commercial) com-5Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Here, the bio-oil yield was observed to be 47.7 wt% for com-5Cu/Al catalyst which was increased to 59.1% for syn-5Cu/Al. It was increased substantially to 65.4 wt% for syn-10Cu/Al. However, only a 40 wt% bio-oil yield was found for the non-catalytic (NC) reaction. Additionally, a further significant improvement to 74.7 wt% was noticed for Zn (5 wt%) modified syn-10Cu/Al catalyst. Here, the screening of the water-ethanol mixture, and reaction parameters were also evaluated which showed a small increase in bio-oil yield to 77.4 wt% for ethanol/water (75/25, v/v). The GC-MS analysis of bio-oil exhibited the high specificity of vanillin (69.3%) for syn-10Cu-5Zn/Al. The 1H NMR and FT-IR investigation also validate the diverse functionality of bio-oils. The reusability of the optimum catalyst (syn-10Cu-5Zn/Al) was also tested for three successive catalytic cycles that exhibited the good performance of the catalyst up to the second cycle.

Dehydrogenative Oxidation of Alcohols by Reusable Iridium Catalysts with a Cooperative Polymer Ligand

A series of iridium‐polymer complexes containing bipyridonate moieties were synthesized. The high catalytic performance of the iridium‐polymer complex for the dehydrogenative oxidation of alcohols was demonstrated. Notably, the bipyridonate moiety in the polymer structure acts as a chemically non‐innocent "functional ligand", realizing the enhancement of dehydrogenation process. While numerous metal‐polymer catalysts have been reported so far, to our knowledge, introducing a "functional ligand" into a polymer chain that can operate cooperatively with transition metals by changing their structures during the catalytic processes is rare. The iridium‐polymer complex could be easily separated from the product and recovered by precipitation upon the addition of methanol after the catalytic reaction. Furthermore, the recovered catalyst could be reused without loss of catalytic efficiency at least ten times.

Exfoliated MXene-AuNPs hybrid in sensing and multiple catalytic hydrogenation reactions.

The increasing use of nanomaterials in consumer products is expected to lead to environmental contamination sometime soon. As water pollution is a pressing issue that threatens human survival and impedes the promotion of human health, the search for adsorbents for removing newly identified contaminants from water has become a topic of intensive research. The challenges in the recyclability of contaminated water continue to campaign the development of highly reusable catalysts. Although exfoliated 2D MXene sheets have demonstrated the capability towards water purification, a significant challenge for removing some toxic organic molecules remains a challenge due to a need for metal-based catalytic properties owing to their rapid response. In the present study, we demonstrate the formation of hybrid structure AuNPs@MXene (Mo2CTx) during the sensitive detection of Au nanoparticle through MXene sheets without any surface modification, and subsequently its applications as an efficient catalyst for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methyl orange (MO), and methylene blue (MB). The hybrid structure (AuNPs@MXene) reveals remarkable reusability for up to eight consecutive cycles, with minimal reduction in catalytic efficiency and comparable apparent reaction rate constant (Kapp) values for 4-NP, MB, and MO, compared to other catalysts reported in the literature.

Hydrothermal-assisted synthesis of Sr-doped SnS nanoflower catalysts for photodegradation of metronidazole antibiotic pollutant in wastewater promoted by natural sunlight irradiation.

In this study, we report a facile hydrothermal synthesis of strontium-doped SnS nanoflowers that were used as a catalyst for the degradation of antibiotic molecules in water. The prepared sample was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The photocatalytic ability of the strontium-doped SnS nanoflowers was evaluated by studying the degradation of metronidazole in an aqueous solution under photocatalytic conditions. The degradation study was conducted for a reaction period of 300 min at neutral pH, and it was found that the degradation of metronidazole reached 91%, indicating the excellent photocatalytic performance of the catalyst. The influence of experimental parameters such as catalyst dosage, initial metronidazole concentration, initial reaction pH, and light source nature was optimized with respect to metronidazole degradation over time. The reusability of the strontium-doped SnS nanoflowers catalyst was investigated, and its photocatalytic efficiency remained unchanged even after four cycles of use.

Polymerized stimuli-responsive microgel hybrids of silver nanoparticles as efficient reusable catalyst for reduction reaction

We have showcased the potential of polymerized hydrogels (PGMs) with uniform-sized stimuli-responsive microgel particles as promising alternatives to prevent aggregation in solution based nanoparticle systems. In the current work, we implemented the PGM concept by embedding anionic stimuli-responsive microgels (PNIPAM-co-AAc)-silver (Ag) hybrids within a hydrogel matrix. These PGM@AgNP hybrid materials are used as catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of sodium borohydride. UV-VIS spectroscopy is used for studying catalytic activity. In the solution based system, the complete reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP took 30 minutes with pure Ag nanoparticles, 24 minutes with PNIPAM-Ag hybrid (Neutral) microgels and 15 minutes with PNIPAM-co-AAc-Ag (Anionic) hybrid microgels. In contrast PGM containing PNIPAM-co-AAc-Ag hybrids achieved full reduction in just 15 minutes, along with a 3-minute induction period. For pure Ag nanoparticles, the first-order rate constant is found to be 0.25 min−1, for PNIPAM-Ag hybrid (Neutral), it is 0.21 min−1 and for PNIPAM-co-AAc-Ag (Anionic), it is 0.5 min−1 where as for PGM containing anionic microgel hybrids it is found to be 0.8 min−1. Furthermore, the reusability of the PGM-Ag (anionic) materials for catalytic activity remains unaltered even after several washings. In summary, our study highlights the effectiveness of PGM@AgNP materials as efficient catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, indicating their versatile potential in various catalytic applications.

Chitosan-sulfonic acid-catalyzed green synthesis of naphthalene-based azines as potential anticancer agents.

Aim: This study focuses on advancing green chemistry in anticancer drug discovery, particularly through the synthesis of azine derivatives with a naphthalene core using CS-SO3H as a catalyst. Methods: Novel benzaldazine and ketazine derivatives were synthesized using (E)-(naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)hydrazine and various carbonyl compounds. The methods employed included thermal and grinding techniques, utilizing CS-SO3H as an eco-friendly and cost-effective catalyst. Results: The approach resulted in high yields, short reaction times and demonstrated catalyst reusability. Cytotoxicity tests highlighted compounds 3b, 11 and 13 as potent against the HEPG2-1. Conclusion: This study successfully aligns with the objectives of eco-conscious drug development in organic chemistry. Molecular docking and in silico studies further indicate the potential of these ligands as antitumor medicines, with favorable oral bioavailability properties.

Recent Advances in Biginelli Reaction using Nanoparticles, Zeolites and Metal Compounds as Catalyst: A Concise Review

Abstract:: The year 1891 is considered as a historic year in chemical science due to the introduction of novel heterocyclic compounds by P. Biginelli. The classical Biginelli reaction offers 3,4- dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones in occupancy of acids like Broansted and Lewis. Multifaceted Dihydropyrimidones (DHPMs) have gained much importance due to their high biological activities. Several nanoparticles, zeolites and metal compounds are disclosed to improve the yield of this product. This review subsumes the evolution and effectiveness of catalysts. It summarises the main synthetic routes which are known to obtain DHPMs using these catalysts. The majority of these catalysts delivered satisfying catalytic activity which was more than 80% in the vicinity of producing Biginelli adducts. We hope this review article will be useful to researchers in terms of obtaining higher yields in a shorter time using easily available and reusable catalysts.

Agro-industrial residue of Pouteria sapota peels as a green heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel from soybean and sunflower oils

We report the use of ash from the agro-industrial waste of Pouteria sapota peels as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst to produce biodiesel from soybean and sunflower oils. The heterogeneous catalyst was prepared by activating raw Pouteria sapota peel powder at 500 °C for 2 h. The physicochemical and structural properties of the ash were evaluated by SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, BET analyses, and its basicity was determined through acid-base titration. The good activity of the ash-based catalyst was attributed mainly to the presence of potassium chloride (KCl), a specific surface area of 1.432 m2 g−1, and its high basicity of 9.069 mmol g−1. A maximum conversion yield of 92% was achieved for both the oils under optimized reaction conditions. For the soybean and sunflower oils, the optimum parameters were 3 wt% and 5 wt% of catalyst charge, methanol to oil molar ratio of 6:1 and 9:1, and a reaction time of 240 min, respectively. The reactions were performed at 65 °C under stirring at 400 rpm. The physicochemical properties of soybean and sunflower biodiesel satisfactorily complied with the International Standard of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM-D6751) and the European Standardization (EN-14214).

Enzymatic Synthesis of Indole-Based Imidazopyridine using α-Amylase.

The imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine scaffold has gained significant attention due to its presence as a lead structure in several commercially available pharmaceuticals like zolimidine, zolpidem, olprinone, soraprazan, etc. Further, indole-based imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives have been found interesting due to their anticancer and antibacterial activities. However, limited methods have been reported for the synthesis of indole-based imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines. In this study, we have successfully developed a biocatalytic process for synthesizing indole-based imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives using the α-amylase enzyme catalyzed Groebke-Blackburn-Bienayme (GBB) multicomponent reaction of 2-aminopyridine, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, and isocyanide. The generality and robustness of this protocol were shown by synthesizing differently substituted indole-based imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in good isolated yields. Furthermore, to make α-amylase a reusable catalyst for GBB multicomponent reaction, it was immobilized onto magnetic metal-organic framework (MOF) materials [Fe3 O4 @MIL-100(Fe)] and found reusable up to four consecutive catalytic cycles without the significant loss in catalytic activity.

Thioxanthone-based ionic liquid as photocatalyst for a tandem cyclization reaction to synthesize pyrroloquinolinones

Visible light catalysis provides an important platform for developing green and sustainable catalytic processes. However, traditional photosensitizers have limited their application due to their inherent limitations. Due to the structural stability and recyclability of ionic liquids (ILs), a bifunctional catalyst TXIL-Ni was designed and synthesized by introducing the photosensitizer thioxanthone (TX) and transition metal Ni(II) into ILs. TXIL-Ni exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity for C7–H acylation of indolines to efficiently synthesize pyrroloquinolinone derivatives by a tandem cyclization reaction of decarboxylation acylation and Claisen-Schmidt condensation. The protocol provided a new strategy for the synthesis of the natural product Viridicatol and the key intermediate of farnesyltransferase inhibitors. The experimental results indicated that thioxanthone-based ionic liquid TXIL-Ni as a synergistic photocatalyst has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, recyclability, and atomic economy. This provides a new solution for the design of multifunctional and reusable catalysts.