Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Analyzing the Photo-oxidation of 2-propanol at Indoor Air Level Concentrations Using Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Published on: June 14, 2018
Delocalization Effect Promoted the Indoor Air Purification via Directly Unlocking the Ring-Opening Pathway of Toluene
Wenqiang Qu1, Penglu Wang1, Min Gao2
1International Joint Laboratory of Catalytic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Research Center of Nano Science and Technology, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The ring-opening process was generally considered as the rate-determining step for aromatic volatile organic compound photocatalytic degradation. A sophisticated and intensive degradation pathway is critical to the poor removal efficiency and low mineralization. In the present contribution, we successfully tailored and identified the ring-opening pathway of toluene elimination by electron delocalization in a borocarbonitride photocatalyst. By means of modulation of the dopant coordination configuration and electron geometry in the catalyst, the lone electrons of carbon transform into delocalized counterparts, sequentially elevating the interaction between the toluene molecules and photocatalyst. The aromatic ring of toluene can be attacked directly in the effect of electron delocalization without engendering additional intermediate species, significantly facilitating the removal and mineralization of toluene. This unprecedented route-control strategy alters the aromatic-ring-based reaction behavior from toluene to CO2 and paves a way to purify the refractory pollutants from the top design.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –⁠CO2R, –COR, –CO2H
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Directing and Steric Effects in Disubstituted Benzene Derivatives
Reactions at the Benzylic Position: Halogenation
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Fluorination and Iodination of Benzene
ortho–para-Directing Deactivators: Halogens

