Exploiting photooxygenations mediated by porphyrinoid photocatalysts under continuous flow conditions

Photooxygenation reactions are a powerful synthetic tool to produce oxidized organic compounds; however, these reactions often exhibit experimental limitations including the production of complex mixtures that hinder desired product isolation and scale-up. Herein, we present a photocatalysed protocol under continuous flow conditions using a simple home built photoreactor and porphyrinoids as photocatalysts. Reaction conditions, long-term experiments, and scope demonstrate a protocol that is cost-effective, safe, reproducible and robust, thus allowing the production of relevant substituted naphthoquinones with interest in natural product synthesis and biological activity. Photooxygenations of naphthols under continuous flow conditions using porphyrinoids as photocatalysts are described. Reaction conditions, long-term experiments and scope were performed, thus allowing the production of substituted naphthoquinones.