Aerobic oxidation of alcohols under visible light irradiation of fluorescent lamp

Abstract

A catalytic amount of magnesium bromide diethyl etherate enables us to carry out the aerobic photo-oxidation of alcohols under irradiation of VIS from a general-purpose fluorescent lamp. Aliphatic primary alcohols, secondary alcohols and benzyl alcohols generally afforded the carboxylic acids directly in good to high yield. The bromine radical is thought to be generated in situ by continuous aerobic photo-oxidation of the bromo anion from MgBr₂·Et₂O, and to effect this oxidation reaction.