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Photocatalysis

Photoreactor in organic synthesis lab for photoredox catalysis.

Photoredox catalysis, or so-called visible light photoredox catalysis, has emerged as a powerful tool in organic synthesis, building upon the foundation set by early pioneers in the areas of radical chemistry and photochemistry. Photoredox chemistry forges new bonds via open shell pathways and facilitates the rapid assembly of complex products en route to new areas of chemical space.1-7 In the presence of visible light, photocatalysts can provide access to entirely new, previously inaccessible bond formations through a wide array of synthetic transformations including but not limited to cross-coupling, C–H Functionalization, alkene and arene functionalization, and trifluoromethylation.

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Photocatalysts

Photocatalysis utilizes visible light to activate a chemical reaction. Our extensive portfolio of catalysts and photoreactors enable consistent reactions in photoredox catalysis.

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The powerful nature of photocatalysis arises, in part, from the ability to activate readily accessible, simple starting materials via single electron transfer pathways to provide access to reactive open shell species under mild reaction conditions. Upon formation, these distinct open shell species can be engaged in a wide variety of radical trapping/quenching events to ultimately deliver high-value products. 

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    Related Applications
    Reaction Design & Optimization
    Chemical reaction design and optimization in organic synthesis aims to precisely alter reaction parameters to achieve optimum results in finding pathways to target molecules.
    C–H Functionalization
    C–H functionalization is the reliable and predictable conversion of a C–H into a C–C, C–N, C–O, or C–X bond in a selective and controlled fashion.
    Fluorination
    Fluorination is the introduction of fluorine to a compound via electrophilic fluorination, nucleophilic fluorination, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, or perfluoroalkylation.
    Cross-Coupling
    Cross-coupling is a common reaction in organic chemistry for the creation of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds with the aid of a metal catalyst.

    References

    1.
    Prier CK, Rankic DA, MacMillan DWC. 2013. Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis with Transition Metal Complexes: Applications in Organic Synthesis. Chem. Rev.. 113(7):5322-5363. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr300503r
    2.
    Fukuzumi S, Ohkubo K. Organic synthetic transformations using organic dyes as photoredox catalysts. Org. Biomol. Chem.. 12(32):6059-6071. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ob00843j
    3.
    Shaw MH, Twilton J, MacMillan DWC. 2016. Photoredox Catalysis in Organic Chemistry. J. Org. Chem.. 81(16):6898-6926. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.6b01449
    4.
    Romero NA, Nicewicz DA. 2016. Organic Photoredox Catalysis. Chem. Rev.. 116(17):10075-10166. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00057
    5.
    Skubi KL, Blum TR, Yoon TP. 2016. Dual Catalysis Strategies in Photochemical Synthesis. Chem. Rev.. 116(17):10035-10074. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00018
    6.
    Poplata S, Tröster A, Zou Y, Bach T. 2016. Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Cyclobutanes by Olefin [2+2] Photocycloaddition Reactions. Chem. Rev.. 116(17):9748-9815. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00723
    7.
    Kärkäs MD, Porco JA, Stephenson CRJ. 2016. Photochemical Approaches to Complex Chemotypes: Applications in Natural Product Synthesis. Chem. Rev.. 116(17):9683-9747. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00760
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