Linkage Conversion in Covalent Organic Frameworks: An Efficient Strategy to Promote Photocatalytic Organic Transformations

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are emerging as promising heterogeneous photocatalysts for organic transformations, owing to their fascinating optical properties, excellent recyclability, and customizable chemical structures. To maximize the photocatalytic activity of COFs, various strategies have been explored, including metal complexation, construction of donor-acceptor structures, modification of functional groups, hybridization with inorganic semiconductors, and linkage conversion. Among these, linkage conversion has proved to be particularly effective, driving the production of numerous value-added organic chemicals. In this concept article, we present a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in linkage conversion and highlight the most enlightening examples that have adopted such a strategy to boost the photocatalytic capabilities of COFs for organic transformations. It is anticipated that this concept will assist researchers in designing novel COFs with multifunctional linkages, paving the way towards their broader application in organic synthesis. Linkage conversion represents an effective strategy to boost the activity of COFs for photocatalytic organic transformations due to enhanced light absorption, carrier separation efficiency, and increased active sites. image