Two-phase oxidation of toluene derivatives by dioxygen using the 3-cyano-1-decylquinolinium ion as a photocatalyst

The two-phase photocatalytic oxidation of toluene and p-xylene by dioxygen occurred efficiently using 3-cyano-1-decylquinolinium hexafluorophosphate (DeQuCN(+)PF(6)(-)) as an organic photocatalyst. When toluene and p-xylene were used as the solvent with 2% H2O, the oxygenated products were produced in the organic phase and hydrogen peroxide was produced in the aqueous phase at high turnover numbers.