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 monoaldehydes via mild photooxygenation utilizing transition metal and main group β-CF3-substituted corroles. Aldehyde yield increased as more electron-donating CH3 groups are present on the substrate. 4-P was most efficient (TON ∼ 1072, mesitylene) via the singlet oxygen vis the superoxide mechanism.