Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Visible-light-driven photocatalyst-free deoxygenative homologation of alcohols to access tertiary alcohols
Xiaochuang Wang1,2, Jun Zhang1, Lu Zhao1
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China. xswu@hust.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A general and effective deoxygenation process for the homologation of alcohols has been developed, driven by visible light without the need for any external photocatalysts or EDA complex formation. Using xanthate anions as intermediates, the present protocol facilitates the C-O bond homolysis of a variety of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols to couple with diverse α-ketoesters, providing facile and practical access to diverse sterically hindered α-hydroxy esters under mild conditions. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that SET from xanthate anions to α-ketoesters triggered by direct photoexcitation is pivotal in initiating the transformation.
More Related Videos
10:21Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
06:34Synthesis of Antiviral Tetrahydrocarbazole Derivatives by Photochemical and Acid-catalyzed C-H Functionalization via Intermediate Peroxides CHIPS
Published on: June 20, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes