Synergistic combination of triazine and phenanthroline moieties in a covalent triazine framework tailored for heterogeneous photocatalytic metal-free C-Br and C-Cl activation

We present the design and synthesis of a new covalent triazine framework with high content of N atoms bearing triazine and phenanthroline moieties. This material displays interesting luminescence phenomena and enhanced photoredox activity as a consequence of synergistic combination of both N-containing aromatic fragments. As catalytic application, the reduction of a variety of brominated and challenging chlorinated aromatic structures, including persistent organic pollutants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, has been performed under light irradiation and room temperature conditions. These chemical transformations follow a photoredox mechanism involving the formation of aryl radicals, that were trapped with different radical acceptors in order to afford the formation of new C-C, C-B and C-P bonds. [Display omitted] •Activation of aryl bromides and chlorides under mild reaction conditions.•Highly enhanced photocatalytic activity as a result of a synergistic effect.•Material with broad structural scope tolerance.•Catalyst with full recyclability and negligible leaching.