The efficient CO2 fixation catalyzed by K‐doped g‐C3N4 catalyst for synthesizing benzimidazoles at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

AbstractThe conversion of CO2 into valuable chemicals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has received extensive attention. Converting CO2 into pharmaceutical intermediates via graphitic carbon nitride (CN) at atmospheric pressure is a challenge. In this work, a series of novel graphitic carbon nitrides (K‐CN) catalysts with different doping ratios of K were synthesized by post‐treatment of CN with KOH as a dopant under magnetic stirring. Herein, substrates of o‐phenylenediamine with different electron‐donating/withdrawing groups were employed to convert CO2 into high‐value heterocyclic benzimidazoles. The optimal reaction conditions were determined by a single factor optimization approach. A series of benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized with a yield of up to 96% under atmospheric pressure, indicating that the catalyst can efficiently fix CO2. This work not only designs a simple and low‐cost K‐CN catalyst but also provides a new pathway for converting CO2 into valuable benzimidazole derivatives at atmospheric pressure. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.