Photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols and concomitant hydrogen peroxide production.

The photochemical oxidation of benzylic alcohols using -hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) catalyst, with Rose Bengal as a singlet oxygen photosensitizer, and the production of hydrogen peroxide (HO) under metal-free conditions is presented. Computational and experimental investigations support O as the oxidant that converts NHPI to the active radical intermediate phthalimide--oxyl (PINO). This is a green alternative to current methods of HO production.