Enhancing the Catalytic Activity of Pd Nanocrystals towards Suzuki Cross‐Coupling by g‐C₃N₄ Photosensitization

Abstract Developing renewable means of activating molecules over traditional catalysts for C−C bond formation is desirable for industrial applications. Herein, we report a strategy to improve the efficiency of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) for the Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions by visible‐light irradiation using g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets (NSs) as photosensitizer. Pd NPs mounted on g‐C₃N₄ become electron‐rich under visible‐light due to generation of excited electrons in g‐C₃N₄ and thereby accelerate the rate‐determining step. Remarkable photocatalytic activity was accomplished utilizing Pd/g‐C₃N₄ for the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction in environmentally benign aqueous settings under room temperature conditions. The activity remarkably improves (~2.5 times) upon light irradiation, yielding one of the highest known turnover frequencies (TOF) of 1858 h⁻¹ and confirming the photosensitizer role of g‐C₃N₄. The TOF for coupling of aryl bromides is also significantly high (~356 h⁻¹). We establish that the low‐energy/long‐lived excitons preferencially transfer to Pd, paving a way for rational designing photocatalysts for various C−C coupling reactions.