Organophotocatalytic Aerobic Oxygenation of Phenols in a Visible?Light Continuous?Flow Photoreactor

A mild photocatalytic phenol oxygenation enabled by a continuous-flow photoreactor using visible light and pressurized air is described herein. Products for wide-ranging applications, including the synthesis of vitamins, were obtained in high yields precisely controlling principal process parameters. The reactor design permits low organophotocatalyst loadings to generate singlet oxygen. It anticipated that efficient aerobic benzoquinones p-quinols contributes sustainable synthesis.