Combining Oxoammonium Cation Mediated Oxidation and Photoredox Catalysis for the Conversion of Aldehydes into Nitriles

A method to oxidize aromatic aldehydes to nitriles has been developed. It involves a dual catalytic system of 4-acetamido-TEMPO and visible-light photoredox catalysis. The reaction is performed using ammonium persulfate as both the terminal oxidant and nitrogen source.