Heterogeneous photocatalytic transformations of s-triazine derivatives

Photocatalytic processes arising from irradiated semiconductor oxide suspensions containing 1,3,5-triazine (s-triazine) derivatives are described. Whereas unsubstituted 1,3,5-triazine undergoes hydrolysis, irrespective of the presence of the photocatalyst, other chloro-, amino-, mercapto-, allyloxo-, carboxy- derivatives give rise, in the presence of band-gap excited semiconductor oxide, to nearly stoichiometric formation of 2,4,6-trihydroxy-1,3,5-triazine (cyanuric acid). This last compound is stable toward photocatalytic conditions as well as to ·OH chemically generated in homogeneous solution (H2O2/UV or Fenton's reagent). Only partial conversion in cyanuric acid is observed for 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and possible explanation is given. The formation of inorganic species (nitrate, chloride, sulfate and ammonium ions) is reported and the mechanism of their evolution presented.