The search for metal-free organic photocatalysts for H2 production from water using visible light remains a key challenge. Reported herein is a molecular structural design of pure organic photocatalysts, derived from conjugated polybenzothiadiazoles, for photocatalytic H2 evolution using visible light. By alternating the substitution position of the electron-withdrawing benzothiadizole unit on the phenyl unit as a comonomer, various polymers with either one- or three-dimensional structures were synthesized and the effect of the molecular structure on their catalytic activity was investigated. Photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiencies up to 116 μmol h(-1) were observed by employing the linear polymer based on a phenyl-benzothiadiazole alternating main chain, with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 4.01 % at 420 nm using triethanolamine as the sacrificial agent.

The formation of aldehydes and ketones via selective oxidation of alcohols is an essential transformation in organic synthesis. However, the usually harsh reaction conditions using toxic metal catalysts or corrosive reagents lead to undesired side products and wastes. Environmentally friendly and mild reaction conditions using metal-free catalysts remain a huge challenge. Herein, we report the use of a thiophene-based covalent triazine framework (CTF) as pure organic and visible-light-active photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of alcohols at room temperature. Molecular oxygen was activated as a clean and selective oxidant. The high selectivity and efficiency of the pure organic photocatalyst could be demonstrated and were comparable to those of the state-of-art metal or nonmetal catalytic systems reported.

Herein, we report a novel trifluoromethanesulfonic acid vapor-assisted solid phase synthetic method to construct nanoporous covalent triazine frameworks with highly ordered hollow interconnected pores under mild reaction conditions.

Pure organic, heterogeneous, metal-free, and visible light-active photocatalysts offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional metal-based catalysts. Here we report a series of microporous organic polymers containing photoactive conjugated organic semiconductor units as heterogeneous photocatalysts for a visible-light-promoted, highly selective bromination reaction of electron-rich aromatic compounds using HBr as a bromine source and molecular oxygen as a clean oxidant. Via a simple Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction, the microporous organic polymers were obtained by cross-linking of organic semiconductor compounds with defined valence and conduction band positions. The utilization of the simply prepared porous polymer-based photocatalytic systems opens new opportunities toward a sustainable and efficient material design for catalysis.