Developing new photocatalysts for
reduction of nitroarenes to anilines
under mild conditions is very significant. Herein, a new polyoxometalate-based
metal–organic framework (POMOF), {[Co(H2O)]2[Co2(H2O)6(TPT)][Co(TPT)PW11O39]}·3H2O·TPT (namely, CoW-TPT, TPT = 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine), was prepared
by incorporating Co(II)-substituted Keggin-type anions [PCoW11O39]5– and a photosensitizer (TPT) into
a framework. In this structure, the direct coordination bond between
[PCoW11O39]5– and TPT ligand
and π···π interactions between TPT molecules
are beneficial for the separation and migration of photogenerated
carriers, thus improving the photocatalytic activity of CoW-TPT. The combination of both photosensitizer TPT and the electron-storable
component [PCoW11O39]5– in
a cooperative photocatalysis fashion is conducive to the photocatalytic
multielectron reduction of nitroarenes. CoW-TPT provided
a high conversion of 94.71% in the photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes
to anilines utilizing triethanolamine as the proton source and electron
donor by sequential proton-coupled electron transfers.