Due　to　the　scarcity　of　the　noble　metals　and　their　high　price,　the　use　of　carbon-based　materials　to　replace　the　noble　metal　catalysts　has　attracted　extensive　current　research　interest.　Herein,　we　reported　that　carbon　quantum　dots　(CQDs)　can　be　used　to　replace　Pd　nanoparticles　in　hydrogenation　reactions　due　to　the　presence　of　the　frustrated　Lewis　acid-base　pairs　(FLPs),　as　demonstrated　experimentally　and　supported　theoretically.　By　coupling　the　hydrogenation　of　imines　over　CQDs　with　ZnIn2S4-based　photocatalytic　dehydrogenation　of　alcohols,　N-alkylation　of　amines　with　alcohols　have　been　successfully　realized　over　CQDs/ZnIn2S4,　with　performance　comparable　to　that　observed　over　Pd/ZnIn2S4　nanocomposite,　demonstrating　the　possibility　of　using　CQDs　to　substitute　Pd　nanoparticles　in　hydrogenation　of　imines.　This　work　shows　enormous　potential　of　employing　the　CQDs　in　chemical　reactions　to　reduce　the　current　dependence　on　noble　metal-based　catalysts.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.