Original formation of benzyl benzoates by TDAE strategy

We report herein an original photoinduced electron transfer reaction between an aromatic aldehyde and TDAE in the presence of chloromethyl-dimethoxybenzenes. Thus, the reaction of 1-chloromethyl-2,5-dimethoxy-3,4,6-trimethylbenzene (1), dichlorides 4 and 5 with a series of aromatic aldehydes, in the presence of TDAE and under light catalysis, gave the corresponding benzyl benzoates.