Carbon nitride-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of carbon–carbon bond of α-hydroxy ketones with visible light and thermal radiation

•Mpg-C3N4 showed higher photocatalytic activities.•Mpg-C3N4-catalyzed oxidation with visible light has been reported.•A new strategy prepares benzoic acids from α-hydroxy ketones.•It represents a green and environmentally friendly synthetic route.•The catalyst can be easily recycled and reused.

Mesoporous carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) as a photocatalyst showed higher photocatalytic activities in organic synthesis. Herein we reported a mpg-C3N4-catalyzed oxidation of α-hydroxy ketones to synthesize benzoic acids with visible light. This reaction represented a green and facile route to synthesize benzoic acids for which catalytic approaches were scarce.

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