FeCl3/HCl-photocatalyzed synthesis of benzylidenebarbituric acids from methylarenes

FeCl₃/HCl was identified as a simple and robust bifunctional catalytic system for the one-pot synthesis of benzylidenebarbituric acids from methylarenes and barbituric acids. This transformation involved the photocatalyzed selective oxidation of methylarenes to the corresponding benzaldehydes followed by the Knoevenagel condensation with barbituric acid.