Self-Photocatalyzed Oxidation of Alkylarenes to Carbonyls with Water

Oxidation is a significant chemical process that occurs in both natural environments and the chemical industry, resulting in the production of oxygenated compounds. Presently, conventional reactions commonly occur in deleterious organic solvents, which are not only wasteful but also widely considered to be environmentally unfriendly. Here, a practical, self-photocatalyzed oxidation method for alkylarenes to carbonyls was developed with water as the oxygen donor. Through MS analysis of the products derived from the reaction with 18 O-labeled water, we confirmed that the oxygen atoms in the products originate from water. This reaction offers an optimal method for synthesizing valuable fine chemicals from alkylarenes to carbonyls. In addition, the system could be further applied in the synthesis of photosensitizers and medicines and the selective degradation of polystyrene, offering an important and practical tool to generate high-value chemicals.