Free Radical Chemistry Enabled by Visible Light-Induced Electron Transfer

Harnessing visible light as the driving force for chemical transformations generally offers a more environmentally friendly alternative compared with classical synthetic methodology. The transition metal-based photocatalysts commonly employed in photoredox catalysis absorb efficiently in the visible spectrum, unlike most organic substrates, allowing for orthogonal excitation. The subsequent excited states are both more reducing and more oxidizing than the ground state catalyst and are competitive with some of the more powerful single-electron oxidants or reductants available to organic chemists yet are simply accessed via irradiation. The benefits of this strategy have proven particularly useful in radical…

• EL
  Eli Lilly and Company
• N
  Novartis
• BU
  Boston University
• NI
  National Institute of General Medical Sciences

  Award: GM096129
• DO
  Division of Chemistry

  Awards: 1565782, 1440118