Nanocarbons in Quantum Regime: an Emerging Sustainable Catalytic Platform for Organic Synthesis

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs), specified by feature sizes of <10 nm, have become a mystic newcomers in the world of nanoscience and attracted much focus of synthetic chemists since the last decade due to their esoteric physico-chemical features. Because of these magical characteristics, carbon dots-based catalytic systems have unlocked the gateway for eco-friendly, benign, and cost-effective next-generation platform for “Nanocatalysis and Photocatalysis” in organic synthesis. The introduction of CQDs in organic synthesis allows the designing new reactions or catalysis in which unique/unprecedented connection/disconnection of chemical bonds has been implemented for the construction of new molecular architectures. This critical review presents a comprehensive study of the catalytic and photocatalytic efficiency of CQDs in organic synthesis which has initiated a more sustainable strategy in to the catalysis field. By systematic summarization and categorization of various organic transformations such as coupling reactions, oxidation reactions, reduction reactions, condensation reactions, ring-opening reactions, epoxidation, C-H activation, etc., a clear picture of all available catalytic and photocatalytic strategies for CQDs are presented and their unique role in various catalytic approaches for specific reactions are discussed in detail. Catalytic aspects of CQDs in heterocyclic synthesis are also been reviewed. Finally, challenges and future aspects associated with the green catalytic efficiency of CQDs in organic synthesis are highlighted. Herein, this review summarizes the current investigations on CQDs for various organic transformations during last 10 years. We experience that the entire potential of CQDs in organic synthesis has yet to be fully explored in organic synthesis. We hope that this review is serving as a humble urge to encourage other organic chemists for further use of CQDs as a sustainable catalyst in organic synthesis.