Synthetic Methods Driven by the Photoactivity of Electron Donor–Acceptor Complexes

The association of an electron-rich substrate with an electron-accepting molecule can generate a new molecular aggregate in the ground state, called an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex. Even when the two precursors do not absorb visible light, the resulting EDA complex often does. In 1952, Mulliken proposed a quantum-mechanical theory to rationalize the formation of such colored EDA complexes. However, and besides a few pioneering studies in the 20th century, it is only in the past few years that the EDA complex photochemistry has been recognized as a powerful strategy for expanding the potential of visible-light-driven radical synthetic chemistry. Here, we explain why this photochemical synthetic…

• MD
  Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad

  Award: CTQ2016-75520-P
• HE
  H2020 European Research Council

  Award: ERC 681840 - CATA-LUX
• HM
  H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

  Awards: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016 (722591?PHOTOTRAIN), H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 795793