Oxidative functionalisation of alcohols and aldehydes via the merger of oxoammonium cations and photoredox catalysis.

We present a new paradigm for nitroxyl-mediated processes via the merger of oxoammonium cation-mediated oxidation with visible-light photoredox catalysis. The integration of these two forms of catalysis has been realised for the oxidative amidation of aldehydes, furnishing N-acylated heterocycles. Extension of this process to the oxidative amidation of alcohols via the intermediacy of an aldehyde was successfully pursued, thus proffering a general oxidation platform. The activated amides synthesised here are excellent synthetic handles for acylation.