Disulfide‐Catalyzed Visible‐Light‐Mediated Oxidative Cleavage of C=C Bonds and Evidence of an Olefin–Disulfide Charge‐Transfer Complex

Abstract

AbstractA photocatalytic method for the aerobic oxidative cleavage of C=C bonds has been developed. Electron‐rich aromatic disulfides were employed as photocatalyst. Upon visible‐light irradiation, typical mono‐ and multi‐substituted aromatic olefins could be converted into ketones and aldehydes at ambient temperature. Experimental and computational studies suggest that a disulfide–olefin charge‐transfer complex is possibly responsible for the unconventional dissociation of S−S bond under visible light.