Oxidation of Benzylamines Using C₇₀ as a Photocatalyst

The Yamakoshi group has reported an effective photooxidation of benzylamines and tetrahydroisoquinolines using fullerene C₇₀ as a catalyst. In the presence of C₇₀ under oxygen atmosphere, benzylamine derivatives can be oxidized to afford imine derivatives in high yields. A similar reaction proceeds when using fullerene C₆₀ or tetraphenylporfyrin (TPP) as a catalyst, but does not have some of the advantages of C₇₀ such as faster reaction times, longer light wavelengths, and lower catalyst loading. Furthermore, the current only reported use of C₇₀, the photo-cyanation to an imine moiety, proceeds in the presence of trimethylsilylcyanide.