Aerobic photocatalytic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds catalyzed by molecular iodine

An efficient, selective and environmentally benign photocatalytic system in acetonitrile has been developed for aerobic oxidation of activated benzylic and allylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without the need for a transition metal in moderate to excellent yields with a catalytic amount of iodine. Very high inter- and intramolecular chemoselectivities are observed when benzylic OH groups are oxidized in the presence of aliphatic (nonbenzylic) hydroxyls.