Electronic modulation of phenanthrenequinone-based covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalytic benzimidazole synthesis.

Three COFs were constructed from a phenanthrenequinone dialdehyde with three electronically distinct amine monomers. Among them, the pyrene-based COF exhibited the most outstanding catalytic efficiency, recyclability and substrate adaptability for photocatalytic benzimidazole synthesis, linking D-A synergy to performance and offering a design guide for COF photocatalysts.