Visible-light-induced photoxidation-Povarov cascade reaction: synthesis of 2-arylquinoline through alcohol and N-benzylanilines under mild conditions via Ag/g-C3N4 nanometric semiconductor catalyst

With a Ag/g-C3N4 nanometric semiconductor as the photocatalyst, 2-arylquinolines were synthesized through a photoxidation-Povarov cascade reaction of N-benzylanilines and alcohols under visible light irradiation. Under the blue light of a 3 W LED, good yields were achieved for various substrates in oxygen at room temperature. This methodology provides a green and mild alternative for the formation of 2-arylquinoline derivatives. Remarkably, the Ag/g-C3N4 nanocomposite can be conveniently recovered and reused several times with satisfying yields.