Synthesis of Xanthones, Thioxanthones and Acridones by a Metal-Free Photocatalytic Oxidation Using Visible Light and Molecular Oxygen.

9 H -Xanthenes, 9 H -thioxanthenes and 9,10-dihydroacridines can be easily oxidized to the corresponding xanthones, thioxanthones and acridones, respectively, by a simple photo-oxidation procedure carried out using molecular oxygen as oxidant under the irradiation of visible blue light and in the presence of riboflavin tetraacetate as a metal-free photocatalyst. The obtained yields are high or quantitative.