Selective CH Partial Photooxidation by Positively Charged Metal Clusters Anchored on Carbon Aerogel under Mild Conditions.

Selective partial photooxidation of CH into value-added chemicals under mild conditions still remains a huge bottleneck. Herein, we design positively charged metal clusters anchored on a three-dimensional porous carbon aerogel. With 0.75FeCA800-4 as an example, X-ray photoelectron spectra and Raman spectra disclose that the iron sites are positively charged. electron paramagnetic resonance spectra show that the Fe sites could donate electrons to activate CH into CH by virtue of the excited-state carbon atoms; meanwhile, they could convert HO into OH radicals under irradiation. In addition, diffuse Fourier-transform infrared spectra suggest the CHOOH obtained is derived from CH oxidation by the hydroxylation of *CH and *CHO intermediates. Consequently, 0.75FeCA800-4 displays a CHOOH selectivity of near 100% and a CHOOH evolution rate of 13.2 mmol g h, higher than those of most previously reported supported catalysts under similar conditions.