Photothermal Aerobic Oxidation of Benzylic C–H Bonds by NHPI/PINO Catalysis

Abstract Photothermal conversion has emerged as a powerful strategy for promoting thermally driven chemical transformations under visible-light irradiation, with carbon black as the photothermal agent that converts light into heat. Herein, we report the photothermal oxidation of benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds to carbonyl compounds under air in combination with N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and Co(OAc)2·4H2O. This method provides an efficient route for converting benzylic groups into the corresponding benzyl ketones.