A metal‐free, convenient photocatalytic approach to chalcones from β‐nitrostyrenes and benzaldehydes via a radical denitrative benzoylation pathway is reported. The salient features of the protocol include the utilization of visible light as an inexpensive and ecosustainable energy source, N‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) as a reusable organophotocatalyst and acetonitrile as an acceptable green solvent to afford chalcones in excellent yields at room temperature in a one‐pot procedure. Notably, this is the first application of β‐nitrostyrenes as readily available substrates for chalcone synthesis and the first example of photocatalysis in this field.magnified image

An efficient, operationally simple, metal-free strategy for the selective oxidation of methylarenes to aromatic aldehydes through visible light photocatalysis employing CBr4 and molecular oxygen is reported.

A novel, highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)-cinnamic acids from β-nitrostyrenes and CBr4employing visible light photoredox catalysis has been developed.

A highly efficient eosin Y catalyzed oxidative heterocyclization of semicarbazones was established under visible-light photoredox catalysis using CBr 4 as a bromine source. The protocol renders a rapid, mild, and efficient access to valuable 5-substituted 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles in an operationally simple way utilizing visible light and atmospheric oxygen.