Construction of Dual-Active-Site Copper Catalyst Containing both Cu-N-3 and Cu-N-4 Sites

Clear recognition and rational construction of suitable active center for specific reaction is always of great significance in designing highly efficient catalysts. Herein, a dual-active-site copper catalyst (DAS-Cu) containing both Cu-N-3 and Cu-N-4 sites is reported. Such catalysts show extremely high catalytic performance (yield: up to 97%) toward oxyphosphorylation of alkenes, while catalysts with single active site (Cu-N-3 or Cu-N-4) are chemically inert in this reaction. Combined with theoretical and experimental results, the different roles of two different Cu active sites in this reaction are further identified. Cu-N-3 site captures the oxygen and trigger further oxidizing process, while Cu-N-4 site provides moderate adsorption sites for the protection of phosphonyl radicals. This work deeply discloses the significant cooperated role with two single-atomic sites in one catalytic active center and brings up a valuable clue for the rational design of better-performing heterogeneous catalyst.