Tracing and elucidating visible-light mediated oxidation and C-H functionalization of amines using mass spectrometry.

The co-existing mechanism of visible light mediated direct oxidation and C-H functionalization of amines was investigated by capturing all the intermediates using online mass spectrometry. The two-step dehydrogenation of amine involving a proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) process was revealed for the first time.