The present invention relates to novel singlet oxygen catalysts useful for the production of specialty chemicals. The catalysts include a core material selected from amine coated polymeric beads, amine coated glass beads and multi-generational dendrimers to which condensed carbon molecules are bonded. These catalysts may in turn give rise to other solid phase heterogeneous catalysts useful for stereoselective or regioselective reactions, by way of non-limiting example.