Green Protocol For Synthesis of Cu₂O@g‐C₃N₄ Photocatalysts For 1, 4 Radical Oxidative Addition of Trans Crotonaldehyde Under Visible Light Condition

Abstract

Using visible light conditions, we have developed a green protocol to prepare copper oxide‐doped graphitic carbon nitride (Cu2O@g‐C3N4) photocatalysts with varied ratios of g‐C3N4 nanosheets to copper oxide‐dopant (0.1 %, 0.5 %, 0.7 %, and 5 % respectively) and characterized through various physicochemical techniques. These photo‐responsive catalysts were used for the 1,4 radical oxidative addition of trans crotonaldehyde into β‐hydroxybutyric acid (BA) as a major product, utilizing 30 % hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and a white LED (Light Emitting Diode) source. Under the innoculous eco‐friendly stipulations, Cu2O@g‐C3N4 (5 %) exclusively promoted the aforementioned reaction leading to 99.85 % trans crotonaldehyde conversion with 66.57 %, 24.1 %, and 9.1 % selectivity for β‐hydroxybutyric acid, crotonic acid and subsequent radical synthesis, respectively.