Photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols and concomitant hydrogen peroxide production

Abstract

The photochemical oxidation of benzylic alcohols using N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) catalyst, with Rose Bengal as a singlet oxygen photosensitizer, and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) under metal-free conditions is presented. Computational and experimental investigations support ¹O₂ as the oxidant that converts NHPI to the active radical intermediate phthalimide-N-oxyl (PINO). This is a green alternative to current methods of H₂O₂ production.