Donor–acceptor semiconducting polymers as superior photocatalysts in the homogeneous phase and recycled via an antisolvent precipitation strategy

Abstract

Donor–acceptor conjugated polymer PBDT-AQ outperformed PBDT-AM in homogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of phenyl methyl sulfides and phenylboronic acids with excellent yields due to superior oxygen adsorption and lower charge transfer resistance, along with excellent solubility in suitable solvents, strong visible-light absorption, optimal band gaps, and appropriate LUMO levels, and can be recycled over five times by heterogenization via an antisolvent precipitation method.