New approach to oximes through reduction of nitro compounds enabled by visible light photoredox catalysis.

A range of nitro compounds are smoothly reduced to their corresponding oximes under the synergistic effects of visible light irradiation, the Ru(bpy)3Cl2 photocatalyst, Hünig's base, Mg(ClO4)2 activation, and MeCN solvent. This remarkably mild and environmentally benign protocol, when orchestrated with classical Beckmann rearrangement, enables such high-value industrial feedstock as caprolactam to be readily accessed from simple precursor nitrocyclohexane.