Efficient solar-driven tandem catalysis for biomass valorization: selective C–C bond cleavage to synthesize xylitol

The Liquid-Sunshine presents a transformative approach for converting biomass into high-value platform chemicals. However, conventional photorefineries suffer from low efficiency and excessive byproduct formation due to the inherent incompatibility between biomass and photocatalysts. Herein, we introduce an innovative tandem oxygen-reforming-photocatalysis (TORP) strategy, which first selectively reforms biomass functional groups before driving photocatalytic C–C bond cleavage to produce high-value platform chemicals (HPCs). The oxygen reforming enhances substrate–catalyst interaction and facilitates selective C–C bond activation, while the formation of a hydrogen-rich surface and associated hydrogen spillover promotes C n −1 radical quenching, thereby improving selectivity and suppressing overoxidation. This TORP strategy leads to a seven-fold increase in xylitol yield (1.3 mmol g −1 h −1 ) with 89% feedstock conversion and provides a robust and efficient approach for biomass valorization and exhibits broad applicability across organic waste and plastic substrates, offering strong potential for industrial deployment.