Functions of Phytic Acid in Fabricating Metal-Free Carbocatalyst for Oxidative Coupling of Benzylamines

of main observation and conclusion Sustainable phytic acid and cellulose are selected as precursors to fabricate P-doped carbon material(C-P-500),which possesses the high surface area and exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability in the oxidative coupling of benzylamines(conversion>95%,yield>95%).During the carbonization of cellulose in the muffle furnace,phytic acid can efficiently prevent the cellulose-derived carbon from combustion and create micro/meso porous structure because of its special function of fire retardation.Control experiments and characterizations demonstrate that P-containing groups anchoring on C-P-500 improve the catalytic performance of carbocatalyst in the oxidation of benzylamines to imines.The excellent catalytic activity of C-P-500 should be contributed collectively by carbonyl and P=0(0H)2 groups.Due to the sustainable property of precursors and simple methodology for fabricating P-doped carbocatalyst,along with the moderate reaction conditions,it is a green catalytic system for the oxidative coupling of benzylamines to imines.