Photochemical Hydrogen Atom Transfer Catalysis for Dehydrogenation of Alcohols To Form Carbonyls

Controllable oxidation of alcohols to carbonyls is one of the fundamental transformations in organic chemistry. Herein, we report an unprecedented visible-light-mediated metal-free oxidation of alcohols to carbonyls with hydrogen evolution. By synergistic combination of organophotocatalyst 4CzIPN and a thiol hydrogen atom transfer catalyst, a broad range of alcohols, including primary and secondary benzylic alcohols as well as aliphatic alcohols, were readily oxidized to carbonyls in moderate to excellent yields. A site-selective oxidation has also been achieved by this protocol. Mechanistic investigation indicates that the oxidation proceeds through an oxidative radical-polar crossover process to obtain an α-oxy carbon cation.