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

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.