Solar photochemical oxidations of benzylic and allylic alcohols using catalytic organo-oxidation with DDQ: application to lignin models.

Visible light has a dramatic effect on the oxidation of benzylic and allylic alcohols, including those deactivated by electron-withdrawing groups, and β-O-4 lignin models, using catalytic amounts of the organo-oxidant 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone. Sodium nitrite or tert-butyl nitrite is used as cocatalyst, and oxygen is employed as the terminal oxidant.