Chemoselective and highly efficient conversion of aromatic alcohols into aldehydes photo-catalyzed by Ag3PO4 in aqueous suspension under simulated sunlight

•Selective and efficient conversion of aromatic alcohols using Ag3PO4•Oxidation was investigated under simulated sunlight in water at ambient conditions.•Mechanism for the high selectivity was investigated.

Achieving alcohol to aldehyde conversion in an energy efficient and environmentally benign way still remains a challenge. Here, we report chemoselective (> 99%) and efficient conversion (> 90%) of alcohols to corresponding aldehydes photocatalyzed by Ag3PO4 in water at room temperature under simulated sunlight excitation. A plausible mechanism for the observed high selectivity is proposed. The mechanism suggested that the reduction site of the semiconductor photocatalysts is more critical to be engineered in order to obtain high chemoselectivity in case of alcohol oxidation.

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