Catalytic aerobic photooxidation of primary benzylic amines using hindered acridinium salts

Hindered acridinium cations, simply prepared by the addition of primary amines to the known methylium tris(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl) cation, catalyze the aerobic photooxidation of primary benzyl amines into benzylimines. A mechanistic rationale for the electron-transfer process is proposed.