Photoexcited nitroarenes for the oxidative cleavage of tertiary amines to carbonyl compounds.

Herein, we report a mild and practical method for the oxidative cleavage of benzylic N,N-dimethylamines to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones. This protocol operates under light irradiation, employing an inexpensive and commercially available nitroarene as the sole photoactive reagent and oxidant. The reaction proceeds via a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the benzylic C-H bond to the triplet excited nitroarene. The method demonstrates a broad substrate scope and offers a straightforward, metal-free route to value-added aromatic carbonyls from simple amine feedstocks.