Cleavage (geology)

Organic chemistry

Cerium

Photocatalysis

Visible spectrum

Vicinal

Catalysis

Composite material

Chemistry

Materials science

Diol

Bond cleavage

Alkyl

Aryl

Fracture (geology)

Optoelectronics

Photochemistry

Chemical Communications

We describe a photocatalytic method for the cleavage of vicinal diols to aldehydes and ketones. The reaction is catalyzed by blue light and a cerium-catalyst and the scope includes aryl as well as alkyl substituted diols. The simple protocol which works under air and at room temperature enables the valorization of abundant diols.

Visible-light mediated C–C bond cleavage of 1,2-diols to carbonyls by cerium-photocatalysis