Simultaneous production of p-tolualdehyde and hydrogen peroxide in photocatalytic oxygenation of p-xylene and reduction of oxygen with 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium ion derivatives.

Photooxygenation of p-xylene by oxygen occurs efficiently under photoirradiation of 9-mesityl-2,7,10-trimethylacridinium ion (Me(2)Acr(+)-Mes) to yield p-tolualdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, which is initiated via photoinduced electron transfer of Me(2)Acr(+)-Mes to produce the electron-transfer state.