Noura Alqahtani, Suguru Iwai, Tribani Boruah, Rebecca L Melen, Thomas Wirth
A continuous-flow electrochemical method for benzylic C-H oxidation using molecular oxygen has been developed, enabling the selective and direct conversion of toluene derivatives into aldehydes. Enhanced gas-liquid mass transfer suppresses overoxidation. Mechanistic studies implicate that reactivity is governed by oxidation potentials, offering a sustainable, catalyst-free approach to aerobic benzylic oxidation.