Flavin-Catalyzed Chemoselective Aerobic Oxygenation of Heteroarylmethanes to Ketones.

A novel flavin-catalyzed chemoselective aerobic oxygenation of arylheteroarylmethanes to ketones has been developed under metal-free and mild conditions. This catalytic system employs a cationic flavin to activate sp3 C-H bonds through the formation of pyridinium-flavin adducts, enabling precise proton and electron transfer for oxygen atom insertion. As a result, this method exhibits high chemoselectivity, effectively distinguishing between arylheteroarylmethanes and diarylmethanes.