Solid Base Bi24O31Br10(OH)δ with Active Lattice Oxygen for the Efficient Photo‐Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes

Abstract The selective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes by O 2 instead of stoichiometric oxidants (for example, Mn VII , Cr VI , and Os IV ) is an important but challenging process. Most heterogeneous catalytic systems (thermal and photocatalysis) require noble metals or harsh reaction conditions. Here we show that the Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 (OH) δ photocatalyst is very efficient in the selective oxidation of a series of aliphatic (carbon chain from C 1 to C 10 ) and aromatic alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes/ketones under visible‐light irradiation in air at room temperature, which would be challenging for conventional thermal and light‐driven processes. High quantum efficiencies (71 % and 55 % under 410 and 450 nm irradiation) are reached in a representative reaction, the oxidation of isopropanol. We propose that the outstanding performance of the Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 (OH) δ photocatalyst is associated with basic surface sites and active lattice oxygen that boost the dehydrogenation step in the photo‐oxidation of alcohols.