Aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reactions of benzyl alcohols using water as the solvent

We report an aerobic photooxidative direct asymmetric aldol reaction using water as the solvent. In this reaction, primary benzyl alcohols are oxidized into benzaldehydes under an oxygen atmosphere using anthraquinone-2-sodium sulfonate monohydrate as an organo-photocatalyst. Stereoselective aldol reactions then proceed using a proline-type organocatalyst.