Selective formation of benzo[c]cinnoline by photocatalytic reduction of 2,2′-dinitrobiphenyl using TiO2 and under UV light irradiation

Abstract

Photocatalytic reduction of 25 μmol 2,2′-dinitrobiphenyl in 50% aqueous iso-propanol and 50 mg P25-TiO₂ under an argon atmosphere and 20 h UV light irradiation selectively produced 23.8 μmol of benzo[c]cinnoline (95%), and 2,2′-biphenyldiamine (5%) whose amount gradually increased with the irradiation time beyond 20–24 h due to further reduction of benzo[c]cinnoline.