Thioacid-catalyzed selective photochemical oxidation reactions under mild conditions

Abstract

Photocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds is a promising and sustainable strategy to synthesize high value-added aldehydes and ketones. In this study, commercially available and versatile thioacids have been employed as catalysts for a wide range of selective oxidation reactions, including those of benzylic sp³ C–H bonds to ketones, alcohols to aldehydes, and amines to aldehydes. The reaction proceeds smoothly without the need for additional bases and oxidants, significantly enhancing the functional group compatibility of substrates. Mechanistic studies indicate that the excited state of thioacids was sufficient to transform molecular oxygen into a superoxide radical anion (O₂˙⁻) through the single electron transfer (SET) process.