Visible-light-driven selective oxidation of glucose in water with H-ZSM-5 zeolite supported biomimetic photocatalyst

A new iron tetra(2,3-bis(butylthio)maleonitrile)porphyrazine (FePz(SBu) 8 ) has been synthesized, then it was loaded on H-ZSM-5 zeolite to obtain a supported biomimetic photocatalyst H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 . Using H 2 O 2 as oxidant, the photocatalytic selective oxidation of glucose in water under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) irradiation was carried out in presence of H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 . Under such conditions, the glucose can be efficiently converted into value-added chemicals such as glucaric acid, gluconic acid, arabinose, glycerol and formic acid . More importantly, in comparison with pure FePz(SBu) 8 and pure H-ZSM-5 zeolite, the H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation and the formation of glucaric acid was observed only when H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 was used, deriving from the synergistic effect between FePz(SBu) 8 and H-ZSM-5 zeolite. Some reaction parameters of glucose oxidation catalyzed by the H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 were discussed, such as loading amount of FePz(SBu) 8 , H 2 O 2 :glucose ratio, glucose concentration, and so on. It was demonstrated that the Soret-band of FePz(SBu) 8 contributed more to the visible light photocatalytic activity than the Q-band during the photocatalytic process. The stability of H-ZSM-5/FePz(SBu) 8 during the photocatalytic process was further evaluated by the reusability test. In addition, the generation of reactive oxygen species was determined by electron spin resonance (ESR) technology and scavenger experiments. A possible reaction pathway of glucose oxidation was also discussed.