Abstract
Herein, we report an unprecedented photocatalytic protocol for the selective deoxygenative reduction of benzoate esters and derivatives, using formate as a reductant. Leveraging this novel and efficient approach, PET upcycling is achieved successfully, delivering alkyl p-methylbenzoate under mild, hydrogen-free conditions. Mechanistic studies reveal that the transformation is enabled by the synergy of consecutive single-electron transfer (SET) and a remote spin-center shift (SCS). Gram-scale synthesis is readily demonstrated using a continuous-flow reactor, underscoring its practical potential.