A newly synthesized green-fluorescent, orthorhombic,
bromide-rich,
perovskite nanocrystal (Φ ∼ 0.93, τ ∼ 12.5
ns, E
ox = +1.6 V) obtained from an unprecedented
bromide precursor dibromoisocyanuric acid was found to be an excellent
visible-light (sunlight or blue-light-emitting diode (LED)) photocatalyst
toward the synthesis of gem-dihaloenones for the
first time. The photoactivated CsPbBr3 catalyzed the homolytic
cleavage of CBrX3 (X = Cl, Br) to generate the •CX3 radical, which underwent cascaded C–C cross-coupling
with terminal alkynes into the corresponding gem-dihaloenones.
Radical-trapping experiments and luminescence-quenching studies helped
establish a single-electron-transfer (SET) mechanism. Interestingly,
other highly stable CsPbBr3 NCs, obtained from N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and dibromohydantoin (DBHT) precursors,
are unable to carry out these transformations. These results not only
enrich the CsPbBr3 synthetic methodology but also encourage
the research community to develop efficient and cost-effective photocatalytic
materials.