Clean Ar-Me conversion to Ar-aldehyde with the aid of carefully designed metallocorrole photocatalysts

Abstract

Toluene,p-xylene and mesitylene were cleanly converted to their corresponding monoaldehydesviamild photooxygenation utilizing transition metal and main group beta-CF3-substituted corroles. Aldehyde yield increased as more electron-donating CH(3)groups are present on the substrate.4-Pwas most efficient (TON similar to 1072, mesitylene)viathe singlet oxygen vis the superoxide mechanism.