Non-heme manganese(ii) complex-catalysed oxidative cleavage of 1,2-diols via alcohol-assisted O2 activation

A well-defined, biologically relevant Mn( ii ) complex is found to catalyse the aerobic oxidative cleavage of a wide range of diverse 1,2-diols to afford valuable carbonyl compounds and five-membered heterocycles under irradiation of visible light.