Photocatalytic reduction of benzonitrile to benzylamine in aqueous suspensions of palladium-loaded titanium(IV) oxide

Benzonitrile (PhCN) was successfully reduced to benzyl amine in acidic aqueous suspensions of a palladium (Pd)-loaded titanium(IV) oxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst in the presence of oxalic acid as a hole scavenger, although the reduction potential of PhCN is believed to be much higher than the potential of the conduction band (CB) of TiO₂, indicating that a Pd co-catalyst strongly contributes to PhCN reduction and that the applicability of photocatalytic reduction is not limited by the CB position of semiconductor photocatalysts.