Photooxidation of some phenols in aerated acetonitrile using tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninatozinc(II) as a sensitizer

Photooxidation of phenol and its some derivatives was performed in aerated acetonitrile in irradiation with visible light using tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninatozinc(II) as a sensitizer. Decomposition of the substrates was accelerated by the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide. The reaction proceeded via the pathway with singlet oxygen. As decomposed products of the phenols, p-benzoquinone and chlorohydroquinone were confirmed.