Tandem oxidation/bromination of ethyl aromatics to α,α-dibromoacetophenones with molecular oxygen under visible light irradiation

The facile synthesis of α,α-dibromoacetophenones from ethyl-substituted aromatics by aerobic photooxidation has been developed. This synthetic method achieves oxidative dibromination of aromatic ethyl groups by using inexpensive and easily handled bromine sources, harmless visible light and molecular oxygen.