Visible‐Light‐Mediated Rose Bengal‐Catalyzed α‐Hydroxymethylation of Ketones with Methanol

Abstract A visible‐light‐mediated α‐hydroxymethylation of ketones using methanol as the hydroxymethylating reagent has been developed. Using 1 mol% rose bengal as the photosensitizer and air as the green oxidant, the reactions proceeded smoothly at room temperature. Experimental studies indicate the reaction proceeded via a radical pathway. magnified image