PdWO3@g-C3N4 Heterojunction Nanocomposite as an Efficient Photocatalyst for the Visible-Light-Facilitated One-Pot Synthesis of 2,4,5-Triaryl-1H-imidazoles

Abstract

A visible-light-driven synthesis of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazole scaffolds was investigated using heterostructured PdWO₃@g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite as a photocatalyst. The one-pot multicomponent condensation of 1,2-diketones, substituted aromatic aldehydes, and ammonium acetate delivered the target products in high yields under mild conditions. The PdWO₃@g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized by standard analytical techniques and the structure of the products was confirmed by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. This catalytic protocol demonstrated superior yield and reaction kinetics compared to previously reported methods. Key merits of this sustainable approach include operational simplicity, broad functional group tolerance, clean reaction profiles, and avoidance of tedious work-up procedures, providing an efficient alternative strategy for synthetic chemists.