Visible light photocatalysis for aerobic oxidative cleavage of alkenes

Aerobic oxidative cleavage of alkenes is presented to give aldehydes and ketones under visible light photocatalysis. A series of aryl substituted alkenes were tested to be suitable substrates in this strategy. Evidence proved that the initiation step undergoes an energy transfer pathway, which may help simplify the reaction condition and exhibit high tolerance of the substrate scope.