One-step synthesis of ZnS-N/C nanocomposites derived from Zn-based chiral metal–organic frameworks with highly efficient photocatalytic activity for the selective oxidation of cis-cyclooctene

Abstract

The highly efficient and highly selective photocatalytic oxidation of alkenes under mild conditions is an important objective in chemical production and catalysis chemistry in the 21st century. Although there has been extensive investigation into new photocatalysts for cis-cyclooctene oxidation, the problems of low conversion and poor selectivity still exist in current production processes. Herein, we demonstrate that ZnS-N/C nanocomposites synthesized by a facile one-step conversion from Zn-based chiral metal–organic frameworks as a photocatalyst exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity for the selective oxidation of cis-cyclooctene under visible light with air as an oxidant at 80 °C (conversion based on cis-cyclooctene is about 66.32% and the selectivity for epoxycyclooctane is about 93.42%). The excellent photocatalytic activity of the ZnS-N/C nanocomposites should be attributed to the synergistic effect between the ZnS and N-doping carbon.