CF3SO2Na-promoted photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to aromatic aldehydes and aromatic esters†

Abstract

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols to aromatic aldehydes and aromatic esters is an important chemical transformation. Here, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate was used as the precursor of an organic photocatalyst, and it transformed into pentacoordinate sulfide under an O₂ atmosphere and light irradiation at room temperature. The in situ formed pentacoordinate sulfide showed excellent photocatalytic efficiency, with photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols providing aromatic aldehydes in good yields; photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohols in other aliphatic alcohols afforded aromatic esters in moderate to good yields. The method avoids the use of precious transition-metal complexes and elaborate organic dyes as photocatalysts.