Tandem processes are valuable tools that allow to build molecular complexity while reducing waste production and the number of steps of synthetic routes. In this work, the in situ photooxidation of benzyl alcohols to the corresponding benzaldehydes is coupled with a Knoevenagel condensation for the preparation of benzylidenemalononitrile derivatives. In this rapid one-pot tandem process, sodium anthraquinone 1,5-disulfonate (SAS) and β-alanine are employed as safe and inexpensive catalysts, while air is used as a terminal oxidant. Moreover, using water as reaction medium results in most cases in the precipitation of the target products, thus facilitating their isolation. Furthermore, the methodology has been successfully scaled up.