Photo- and Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Oxidation of Benzylic C(sp3)–H Bonds

Here, we report a photo- and copper-catalyzed enantioselective oxidation of benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds using N-hydroxyphthalimide as the oxygenated reagent. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions and does not require excess substrates or oxidants. The oxidation products can be readily transformed into chiral benzylic alcohols or hydroxylamines. Preliminary mechanism studies suggest that the oxidation reaction proceeds via a free radical mechanism.