TEMPO-Mediated Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes under Visible Light and Air

A homogeneous visible light photoredox TEMPO‐mediated selective oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds was developed using molecular oxygen from air as the terminal oxidant. Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 (bpy: bipyridyl) and Ir(dtb‐bpy)(ppy)2(PF6) (dtb‐bpy: 4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl; ppy: 2‐phenylpyridine) were used as the sensitizers. A homogeneous visible light photoredox TEMPO‐mediated selective oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds was developed. Molecular oxygen from air was the terminal oxidant.