Chemoselective Photocatalytic Reduction of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol Under the Influence of Visible Light with the Participation of Nanocrystalline Carbon Nitride and Palladium Co-Catalysts

Abstract

It is established that crystalline graphite-like carbon nitride (CGCN) exhibits high photocatalytic activity in the process of chemoselective reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol in the presence of co-catalysts under the action of visible light by electron-donating substrates, such as methanol/water and ethanol/water, in an acidic medium. When palladium chloride additives are introduced into the reaction mixture, the rate of the process is higher than with the participation of the Pd/SiO₂ co-catalyst. This phenomenon may be due to the in situ formation of the CGCN/Pd⁰ composite photocatalyst in the presence of PdCl₂, where the photogenerated charges are better separated than in the CGCN-Pd/SiO₂ system. The effective quantum yield of furfural reduction is 56% at λ_irr = 405 nm) under optimal conditions.