Selective oxofunctionalization of cyclohexene over titanium dioxide‐based and bismuth oxyhalide photocatalysts by visible light irradiation

Photocatalysis driven under visible light allows us to carry out hydrocarbon oxofunctionalization under ambient conditions, using molecular oxygen as a sacrificial reagent, with the absence of hazardous subproducts and the potential use of the Sun as a clean and low‐cost source of light. In this work, eight materials—five based on titanium dioxide and three based on bismuth oxyhalides—were used as photocatalysts in the selective oxofunctionalization of cyclohexene. The cyclohexane oxofunctionalization reactions were performed inside of a homemade photoreactor equipped with a 400 W metal halide lamp and injected air as a source of molecular oxygen. In all assayed systems, the main oxygenated products, identified by mass spectrometry, were 1,2‐epoxycyclohexane, 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐ol, and 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one. Titanium dioxide‐based materials exhibited higher selectivities for 1,2‐epoxycyclohexane than bismuth oxyhalide‐based materials. In addition to this, titanium dioxide doped with iron exhibited the best selectivity for 1,2‐epoxycyclohexane, demonstrating that iron plays a relevant role in the cyclohexene epoxidation process.