Visible-light-mediated oxidative C-S bond cleavage of benzyl thiols through in situ activation strategy.

A novel method for the oxidative C-S bond cleavage of benzyl thiols was developed. In situ-activated silver species enabled the controlled bond cleavage of benzyl thiols to afford aldehydes and ketones in the absence of a photocatalyst. The desired carbonyl compounds were obtained under mild reaction conditions via two different reaction pathways.