Visible-light-promoted aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids in water by hydrophilic organic semiconductor

A hydrophilic organic semiconductor PDI-SN was used for green and sustainable photocatalytic synthesis of the aerobic oxidative hydroxylation of aryl boronic acids. This reusable catalytic system proceeds under ambient conditions: water as solvent and air as oxidant, giving various phenols as products with high yields.