Hydrogenation of C=N bonds on TiO2 surface: The effect of the Cu2O/TiO2 p-n heterojunction photocatalyst

As a widely used semiconductor photocatalyst , TiO 2 has been explored in organic compounds hydrogenation. In this study, the hydrogenation of C=N bonds on the surface of TiO 2 was accomplished for the first time utilizing Cu 2 O/TiO 2 type-II (p-n) heterojunction . The probe reactions, hydrogenation of N -benzylphenylamine with benzyl alcohol, and N -methylation of amines with methanol exhibited that the hydrogenation of C=N bonds on TiO 2 surface can be achieved through borrowing hydrogen reaction (BH, alcohols as hydrogen source). Additionally, the BH reaction rate could be improved by adding external H + to the reaction system. The catalytic activity of Cu 2 O/TiO 2 was discovered to remain at an efficient level even after six reaction cycles.