Photosensitized oxidative deprotection of oximes to their corresponding carbonyl compounds by platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylide complex.

Platinum(II) terpyridyl acetylide complex (1) photosensitizes the oxidation of aldoximes 2-4, aliphatic acyclic and cyclic ketoximes 5-7, and aromatic ketoximes 8-10 into their corresponding carbonyl compounds with good to excellent yields in acetonitrile solution. This deprotection of oximes proceeds via singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) mechanism. The photosensitizer can be easily separated from the product and unreacted starting material by extraction with ethyl acetate and reused for photooxidation without loss of (1)O(2)-generation capacity.