Precise incorporation of transition metals into organolead oxyhalide crystalline materials for photocatalysis

Organolead halide crystalline materials are an emerging class of high-performance photocatalysts. However, limited studies have been performed to tune their photoactive properties by precise introduction of transition metals. Herein, we report the successful incorporation of four different transition metal centers (Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+) into a lead oxyhalide crystalline matrix via isoreticular synthesis. Importantly, the precise control of the incoming transition metal positions has been achieved by its octahedral coordination with three organic ligands. Among them, the Zn2+-incorporated material exhibits the highest catalytic activity and recyclable activity in benzylamine oxidation under UV light, which is probably ascribed to the long carrier lifetime and efficient carrier transfer.