Abstract
The photooxidation of styrene by molecular oxygen was investigated in organic–water biphasic media at room temperature under UV light irradiation. The photoreaction gave a high selectivity (>90%) of the product, benzaldehyde, with a formative yield of 29%. This new method was also operative for the oxidation of several styrene derivatives, such as 3-methylstyrene, 4-methoxylstyrene, β-methylstyrene, and 1,1-diphenylethylene, into the corresponding aldehydes or ketones. It was demonstrated that both molecular oxygen and water were essential to these reactions. The mechanistic study revealed that the primary reaction involved mainly electron transfer from the excited styrene to triplet ground state molecular oxygen, forming the superoxide radical anion and styrene radical cation, followed by cleavage of the CC bond via an adduct intermediate in the presence of water.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
