[Copper(phenanthroline)(bisisonitrile)]+-Complexes for the Visible-Light-Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Addition and Allylation Reactions

Photoexcited Transition-Metal Catalyzed Carbon-Halogen Bond Formation

Transition-metal catalysis has proven useful in facilitating carbon-halogen (C-X) bond formation. Despite the vast number of methodologies reported to furnish these bonds, limitations have remained, warranting continued development. The recent surge of metallaphotoredox-based transformations has provided a novel gateway to bypass these limitations. Through the use of photoexcited species, the formation of C-X bonds arise through new mechanistic pathways, finding alternatives to high reaction temperatures and stoichiometric additives. The discovery of this novel strategy has provided access to molecular space that has not been previously attainable. Herein, we report the recent advances on transition-metal photocatalyzed C-X bond formation, in hopes of easing the synthetic endeavours for chemists in industrial and academic laboratories.

Isonitrile Photochemistry: A Functional Group Class Coming in from the Cold

Starting from a historical background that acknowledges isonitriles as a neglected class of compounds due to their unpleasant smell and hardly controlled reaction conditions with open shell species, the present concept article aims at highlighting the seeds of the modern isonitrile photochemistry. Representative essential transformations achieved via either UV light irradiation or radical initiators at high temperatures are brought into play to draw a parallel with the current literature relying on the exploitation of visible light photochemical methods. Such a comparison points out the potential of this enabling technology to further expand the scope of isonitrile chemistry and the unmet challenges which makes it a very stimulating field.

α-Halocarbonyls as a Valuable Functionalized Tertiary Alkyl Source

This review introduces the synthetic organic chemical value of α-bromocarbonyl compounds with tertiary carbons. This α-bromocarbonyl compound with a tertiary carbon has been used primarily only as a radical initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) reactions. However, with the recent development of photo-radical reactions (around 2010), research on the use of α-bromocarbonyl compounds as tertiary alkyl radical precursors became popular (around 2012). As more examples were reported, α-bromocarbonyl compounds were studied not only as radicals but also for their applications in organometallic and ionic reactions. That is, α-bromocarbonyl compounds act as nucleophiles as well as electrophiles. The carbonyl group of α-bromocarbonyl compounds is also attractive because it allows the skeleton to be converted after the reaction, and it is being applied to total synthesis. In our survey until 2022, α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used to perform a full range of reactions necessary for organic synthesis, including multi-component reactions, cross-coupling, substitution, cyclization, rearrangement, stereospecific reactions, asymmetric reactions. α-Bromocarbonyl compounds have created a new trend in tertiary alkylation, which until then had limited reaction patterns in organic synthesis. This review focuses on how α-bromocarbonyl compounds can be used in synthetic organic chemistry.

Oxidative Substitution of Organocopper(II) by a Carbon-Centered Radical

Copper-catalyzed coupling reactions of alkyl halides are believed to prominently involve copper(II) species and alkyl radicals as pivotal intermediates, with their exact interaction mechanism being the subject of considerable debate. In this study, a visible light-responsive fluoroalkylcopper(III) complex, [(terpy)Cu(CF3)2(CH2CO2tBu)] Trans-1, was designed to explore the mechanism. Upon exposure to blue LED irradiation, Trans-1 undergoes copper-carbon bond homolysis, generating Cu(II) species and carbon-centered radicals, where the carbon-centered radical then recombines with the Cu(II) intermediate, resulting in the formation of Cis-1, the Cis isomer of Trans-1. Beyond this, a well-defined fluoroalkylcopper(II) intermediate ligated with a sterically hindered ligand was isolated and underwent full characterization and electronic structure studies. The collective experimental, computational, and spectroscopic findings in this work strongly suggest that organocopper(II) engages with carbon-centered radicals via an "oxidative substitution" mechanism, which is likely the operational pathway for copper-catalyzed C-H bond trifluoromethylation reactions.

Metal-Free Decarboxylative Allylation of Oxime Esters under Light Irradiation

Allylation reactions, often used as a key step for constructing complex molecules and drug candidates, typically rely on transition-metal (TM) catalysts. Even though TM-free radical allylations have been developed using allyl-stannanes, -sulfides, -silanes or -sulfones, much less procedures have been reported using simple and commercially available allyl halides, that are used for the preparation of the before-mentioned allyl derivatives. Here, we present a straightforward photocatalytic protocol for the decarboxylative allylation of oxime esters using allyl bromide derivatives under metal-free and mild conditions. This methodology yields a diverse variety of functionalized molecules including several pharmaceutically relevant molecules.

NHC-Cu Three-Coordinate Complex as a Promising Photocatalyst for Energy and Electron Transfer Reactions

Herein, we describe a simple three-coordinate complex of Cu(I) with an NHC and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands as an effective photocatalyst for energy (e.g., olefin E/Z isomerization) and electron transfer (e.g., aryl halide dehalogenation) reactions under blue-light irradiation. This complex can be obtained in a one-pot procedure starting from commercially available reagents and green solvents (EtOH, water). We hereby present a study of its activity and mechanistic insight into its mode of operation.

Allylsilane as a versatile handle in photoredox catalysis

Organosilanes have secured a special place in the synthetic world for several decades. However, among them, allylsilanes are a choice reagent for organic chemists to develop novel organic transformations. In recent years researchers have proved that visible-light photoredox catalysis has emerged as one of the most mild, sustainable, straightforward, and efficient strategies to construct simple to complex molecules with or without enantioselectivity. This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advances and strategies employed in visible-light photoredox catalysis for allylsilane and its analogues for the development of various organic transformations. The review is divided into sections, each focused on a specific reactivity of allylsilane under light irradiation with C(sp2) center arene or alkene, C(sp2) center carbonyl, and C(sp3) center carbon functionality. In this review, we present optimization data, reaction scope, and mechanistic aspects to bring forward specific reactivity and selectivity trends of allylsilane in photoredox conditions.

Total Synthesis of the Diterpenes (+)-Randainin D and (+)-Barekoxide via Photoredox-Catalyzed Deoxygenative Allylation

We report the first enantioselective total synthesis of diterpenoid randainin D, which possesses a hydroazulenone core with a β-substituted butenolide moiety on the cycloheptane ring. The trans-5/7 ring system was formed via a highly challenging ring-closing metathesis delivering the tetrasubstituted cycloheptenone. The butenolide moiety was installed via a novel deoxygenative allylation under Ir-photoredox catalysis, employing methyl oxalate as a red/ox tag. Moreover, the developed allylation was successfully utilized in the 7-step total synthesis of (+)-barekoxide. This study suggests that this deoxygenative allylation method is a promising strategy for the formation of Cq-C(sp3) bonds (Cq = quaternary center) in the context of natural product synthesis.

Hetero- and Homointerlocked Metal-Organic Cages

Interlocked molecular assemblies constitute a captivating ensemble of chemical topologies, comprising two or more separate components that exhibit remarkably intricate structures. The interlocked molecular assemblies are typically identical, and heterointerlocked systems that comprise structurally distinct assemblies remain unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that metal-templated synthesis can be exploited to afford not only a homointerlocked cage but also a heterointerlocked cage. Treatment of a carboxylated 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp) or Cu(I) bis-dmp linker with a Ni4-p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene cluster affords noninterlocked octahedron and quadruply interlocked double cages consisting of two identical tetragonal pyramids, respectively. In contrast, when a mixture of dmp and Cu(I) bis-dmp linkers is used, a quadruply heterointerlocked cage is produced, consisting of a tetragonal pyramid and an octahedron. With photoredox-active [Cu(dmp)2]+ in the structures, both interlocked cages exhibit remarkable performance as photocatalysts for atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reactions of trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride with alkenes or oxo-azidations of vinyl arenes. These interlocked structures serve the dual purpose of stabilizing photocatalytically active components against deactivation and encapsulating substrates within the cavity, resulting in yields comparable to or even surpassing those of their molecular counterparts. This work thus provides a new strategy that combines metal templating and nontemplating approaches to design new types of interlocked assemblies with intriguing architectures and properties.

Well-defined Cu(I) complexes based on [N,P]-pyrrole ligands catalyzed a highly endoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

We herein report the synthesis and catalytic application of a new family of dinuclear Cu(I) complexes based on [N,P]-pyrrole ligands. The Cu(I) complexes (4a-d) were obtained in good yields and their catalytic properties were evaluated in the1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and electron-deficient alkenes. The air-stable complexes 4a-d exhibited high endo-diasteroselectivity to obtain substituted pyrrolidines, and the catalytic system showed excellent reactivity and wide substitution tolerance.

CuI-p-DPA coordination polymer isomers for "turn-on" fluorescence detection of thiophanate-methyl

Three copper iodide coordination polymer (CuI-p-DPA) isomers were prepared from the fluorescent organic ligand p-DPA and cuprous iodide (CuI) under different solvothermal conditions, which exhibited quenched fluorescence behaviors after forming coordination polymers (CPs). These CuI-p-DPA isomers showed discrepant fluorescence responses to thiophanate-methyl (TM). Among these CuI-p-DPA isomers, α-CuI-p-DPA exhibited the maximum fluorescence enhancement after its incubation with TM in aqueous solution. The fluorescence enhancement mechanism was that TM competed with the ligand p-DPA to coordinate with CuI clusters, and then α-CuI-p-DPA released p-DPA into the solution and induced fluorescence enhancement. The present detection method possesses the advantages of good selectivity, high sensitivity, short response time, and strong anti-interference ability with a linear range of 0.5-100 μM and a detection limit of 0.01 μM. This study not only reveals that the spatial structures of CPs play an important role in the fluorescence response ability, but also provide a new fluorescence signal-on analysis method to rapidly and sensitively determine the pesticide residue for TM.

Visible light-mediated halogenation of organic compounds

The use of visible light and photoredox catalysis emerged as a powerful and sustainable tool for organic synthesis, showing high value for distinctly different ways of bond creation. Halogenated compounds are the cornerstone of contemporary organic synthesis: it is almost impossible to develop a route towards a pharmaceutical reagent, agrochemical, natural product, etc. without the involvement of halogen-containing intermediates. Moreover, the halogenated derivatives as final products became indispensable for drug discovery and materials science. The idea of this review is to understand and summarise the impact of visible light-promoted chemistry on halogenation and halofunctionalisation reactions.

P/N-heteroleptic Cu(I)-photosensitizer-catalyzed domino radical relay annulation of 1,6-enynes with aryldiazonium salts

A visible-light driven photocatalytic construction of benzo[b]fluorenones from 1,6-enynes and aryldiazonium salts has been achieved via a P/N-heteroleptic Cu(I)-photosensitizer-catalyzed domino radical relay annulation process. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the aryl radicals in situ generated from aryldiazonium salts with the excited state of the Cu(I)-photosensitizer played a dual role of a radical initiator and a radical terminator in the concise construction of the highly fused benzo[b]fluorenone scaffold.

Approach to Access Benzo[j]phenanthridinones from 1,7-Enynes and Aryldiazonium Salts via a Domino Radical Relay Process Enabled by a P/N-Heteroleptic Cu(I)-Photosensitizer

A mild approach for the synthesis of benzo[j]phenanthridin-6(5H)-one derivatives from 1,7-enynes and aryldiazonium salts has been successfully developed involving a domino radical relay process enabled by a heteroleptic Cu(I)-photosensitizer under visible-light-driven photocatalytic conditions. Mechanistic studies disclosed that the oxidative quenching of the excited state of PS 4 with aryldiazonium salts via an SET process generated aryl radicals, which could play a radical initiator-terminator dual role within the whole radical relay process, namely, at the initial step acting as a radical donor to trigger the radical addition to the olefin moieties of 1,7-enynes while at the final stage serving as a radical acceptor to complete the cyclization.

Photocatalytic Cascade Cyclization of Aryl Haloalkynyl Ketones Forming Cyclopenta[b]naphthalene Derivatives

An efficient metal-free, photoredox-mediated cascade cyclization of aryl 1-haloalk-5-ynyl ketones has been developed. Using catalytic amounts of eosin Y (EY) and EtNMe₂ as a reductive quencher, various aryl 1-haloalk-5-ynyl ketones have been transformed into the corresponding cyclization products in up to 98% yield. As a result, synthetic access to differently α-functionalized cyclopenta[b]naphthones and direct construction of cyclopenta[b]naphtholes has been developed.

Photoinduced Copper-Catalyzed C(sp3)-P Bond Formation by Coupling of Secondary Phosphines with N-(Acyloxy)phthalimides and N-Fluorocarboxamides

A photoinduced copper-catalyzed C(sp³)-P bond formation has been developed by using N-(acyloxy)phthalimides as radical precursors and secondary phosphine boranes as coupling partners. A variety of alkyl carboxylic acid derivatives can be readily transformed into the corresponding phosphines with high reaction efficiency and structural diversity. Besides, utilizing the 1,5-HAT of the N-centered radical process, the δ C(sp³)-H bond can be coupled with secondary phosphines, which provides a novel method for the regioselective formation of C(sp³)-P bonds.

Diquat Based Dyes: A New Class of Photoredox Catalysts and Their Use in Aerobic Thiocyanation

A series of new organic donor-π-acceptor dyes incorporating a diquat moiety as a novel electron-acceptor unit have been synthesized and characterized. The analytical data were supported by DFT calculations. These dyes were explored in the aerobic thiocyanation of indoles and pyrroles. Here they showed a high photocatalytic activity under visible light, giving isolated yields of up to 97 %. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of standalone diquat and methyl viologen through formation of an electron donor acceptor complex is presented.

Photoactive Copper Complexes: Properties and Applications

Photocatalyzed and photosensitized chemical processes have seen growing interest recently and have become among the most active areas of chemical research, notably due to their applications in fields such as medicine, chemical synthesis, material science or environmental chemistry. Among all homogeneous catalytic systems reported to date, photoactive copper(I) complexes have been shown to be especially attractive, not only as alternative to noble metal complexes, and have been extensively studied and utilized recently. They are at the core of this review article which is divided into two main sections. The first one focuses on an exhaustive and comprehensive overview of the structural, photophysical and electrochemical properties of mononuclear copper(I) complexes, typical examples highlighting the most critical structural parameters and their impact on the properties being presented to enlighten future design of photoactive copper(I) complexes. The second section is devoted to their main areas of application (photoredox catalysis of organic reactions and polymerization, hydrogen production, photoreduction of carbon dioxide and dye-sensitized solar cells), illustrating their progression from early systems to the current state-of-the-art and showcasing how some limitations of photoactive copper(I) complexes can be overcome with their high versatility.

P/N-Heteroleptic Cu(I)-Photosensitizer-Catalyzed [3 + 2] Regiospecific Annulation of Aminocyclopropanes and Functionalized Alkynes

We report here a regiospecific [3 + 2] annulation between aminocyclopropanes and various functionalized alkynes enabled by a P/N-heteroleptic Cu(I) photosensitizer under photoredox catalysis conditions. Thus, a divergent construction of 3-aminocyclopentene derivatives including methylsulfonyl-, arylsulfonyl-, chloro-, ester-, and trifluoromethyl-functionalized aminocyclopentenes could be achieved with advantages of high regioselectivity, broad substrate compatibility, and mild and environmentally benign reaction conditions.

Design of Photosensitive Cobalt Complex Intermediates and Their Application in the Green Syntheses of Molecules Containing the Quinazolin-4(3H)-imine Scaffold

Cobalt/photoredox cooperative catalysis is a well-explored technology for visible-light photoredox catalysis. Recently, the photosensitivity of Co(II) complexes in homogeneous catalysis has aroused the interest of scientists. In this study, photosensitive Co(II) complex intermediates were designed to develop new synthetic methods. These intermediates, consisting of Co(II) and two substrate molecules, bind to O₂ and absorb visible light over a wide spectral range, triggering in situ oxidative decarboxylation to produce molecules containing the quinazolin-4(3H)-imine scaffold. These reactions employed glyoxylic acid and ketoacids as new building blocks, and good to excellent yields of the corresponding products were obtained under mild reaction conditions using green and inexpensive reagents and solvents. These results are of importance since the design of Co-based photosensitive intermediates will aid in establishing novel methods for harnessing visible light and hence lead to innovation in organic syntheses.

Red Light-Based Dual Photoredox Strategy Resembling the Z-Scheme of Natural Photosynthesis

Photoredox catalysis typically relies on the use of single chromophores, whereas strategies, in which two different light absorbers are combined, are rare. In photosystems I and II of green plants, the two separate chromophores P₆₈₀ and P₇₀₀ both absorb light independently of one another, and then their excitation energy is combined in the so-called Z-scheme, to drive an overall reaction that is thermodynamically very demanding. Here, we adapt this concept to perform photoredox reactions on organic substrates with the combined energy input of two red photons instead of blue or UV light. Specifically, a Cu^I bis(α-diimine) complex in combination with in situ formed 9,10-dicyanoanthracenyl radical anion in the presence of excess diisopropylethylamine catalyzes ca. 50 dehalogenation and detosylation reactions. This dual photoredox approach seems useful because red light is less damaging and has a greater penetration depth than blue or UV radiation. UV-vis transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that the subtle change in solvent from acetonitrile to acetone induces a changeover in the reaction mechanism, involving either a dominant photoinduced electron transfer or a dominant triplet-triplet energy transfer pathway. Our study illustrates the mechanistic complexity in systems operating under multiphotonic excitation conditions, and it provides insights into how the competition between desirable and unwanted reaction steps can become more controllable.

Heteroleptic Copper(I)-Based Complexes Incorporating BINAP and π-Extended Diimines: Synthesis, Catalysis and Biological Applications

A series of copper-based photocatalysts of the type Cu(NN)(BINAP)BF₄ were synthesized bearing π-extended diimine ligands. Their behavior in several photocatalytic processes were evaluated and revealed acceptable levels of activity in an SET process, but negligible activity in PCET or ET processes. Suitable activity in ET processes could be restored through modification of the ligand. The BINAP-derived complexes were then evaluated for activity against triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Controls indicated that copper complexes, and not their ligands, were responsible for activity. Encouraging activity was displayed by a homoleptic complex Cu(dppz)₂BF₄.

Novel Copper Complexes as Visible Light Photoinitiators for the Synthesis of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs)

This work is devoted to the study of two copper complexes (Cu) bearing pyridine ligands, which were synthesized, evaluated and tested as new visible light photoinitiators for the free radical photopolymerization (FRP) of acrylates functional groups in thick and thin samples upon light-emitting diodes (LED) at 405 and 455 nm irradiation. These latter wavelengths are considered to be safe to produce polymer materials. The photoinitiation abilities of these organometallic compounds were evaluated in combination with an iodonium (Iod) salt and/or amine (e.g., N-phenylglycine—NPG). Interestingly, high final conversions and high polymerization rates were obtained for both compounds using two and three-component photoinitiating systems (Cu1 (or Cu2)/Iodonium salt (Iod) (0.1%/1% w/w) and Cu1 (or Cu2)/Iod/amine (0.1%/1%/1% w/w/w)). The new proposed copper complexes were also used for direct laser write experiments involving a laser diode at 405 nm, and for the photocomposite synthesis with glass fibers using a UV-conveyor at 395 nm. To explain the obtained polymerization results, different methods and characterization techniques were used: steady-state photolysis, real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (RT-FTIR), emission spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.

Visible Light-Induced Transition Metal Catalysis

In recent years, visible light-induced transition metal catalysis has emerged as a new paradigm in organic photocatalysis, which has led to the discovery of unprecedented transformations as well as the improvement of known reactions. In this subfield of photocatalysis, a transition metal complex serves a double duty by harvesting photon energy and then enabling bond forming/breaking events mostly via a single catalytic cycle, thus contrasting the established dual photocatalysis in which an exogenous photosensitizer is employed. In addition, this approach often synergistically combines catalyst-substrate interaction with photoinduced process, a feature that is uncommon in conventional photoredox chemistry. This Review describes the early development and recent advances of this emerging field.

Copper(ii) complexes of quinoline-based ligands for efficient photoredox catalysis of atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reaction

Cu(ii)·1Q is efficient in ATRA reactions with perhaloalkanes, revealing the role of common additives (AIBN or inorganic base).

Recent advances in visible-light mediated functionalization of olefins and alkynes using copper catalysts

Over the past decade, visible-light photoredox catalysis has blossomed as a powerful strategy and offers a discrete activation mode complementary to thermal controlled reactions. Visible-light-mediated photoredox catalysis also offers exciting...

Cuprous Cluster-Based Coordination Sheets as Photocatalytic Regulators to Activate Oxygen, Benzoquinone, and Thianthrenium Salts

Cuprous clusters are well known for their important fluorescent properties and tunable redox behavior, but the coordinated protecting groups restrict their application in photocatalysis, in particular, the inner-sphere activation of substrates. By modifying fluorescent cuprous clusters with terminal iodides into two-dimensional coordination sheets, we report a photocatalytic regulator to synergistically combine electron transfer and energy transfer for the oxidative coupling of benzoquinone and terminal alkynes. Under visible light irradiation, the well-modified excited state of the cuprous clusters in the coordination sheets reduces benzoquinones to generate aoxy radicals through electron transfer and activates oxygen through energy transfer. The aoxy radicals interact with copper-coordinated phenylacetylene to form an active intermediate, which is further oxidized by the in situ formed active oxygen species and aryl ketones are obtained. The warranted potential of the excited coordination sheets enables the reductive activation of thianthrenium salts as radical precursors, facilitating radical capture and further C-N coupling via an inner-sphere activation mechanism. The new catalytic approach optimizes the redox properties and excited-state lifetime, shortens the electron transfer steps, and promotes the potential collision of a low concentration of active species in tandem catalytic cycles, thus paving a new way to develop ecologically benign, cost-effective, multipurpose, and flexible catalytic systems.

Visible-light-mediated copper photocatalysis for organic syntheses

Photoredox catalysis has been applied to renewable energy and green chemistry for many years. Ruthenium and iridium, which can be used as photoredox catalysts, are expensive and scarce in nature. Thus, the further development of catalysts based on these transition metals is discouraged. Alternative photocatalysts based on copper complexes are widely investigated, because they are abundant and less expensive. This review discusses the scope and application of photoinduced copper-based catalysis along with recent progress in this field. The special features and mechanisms of copper photocatalysis and highlights of the applications of the copper complexes to photocatalysis are reported. Copper-photocatalyzed reactions, including alkene and alkyne functionalization, organic halide functionalization, and alkyl C-H functionalization that have been reported over the past 5 years, are included.

Single Cu(I)-Photosensitizer Enabling Combination of Energy-Transfer and Photoredox Catalysis for the Synthesis of Benzo[b]fluorenols from 1,6-Enynes

An efficient, mild, and atom-economical synthesis of benzo[b]fluorenols from 1,6-enynes has been developed under photocatalytic conditions. A single P/N heteroleptic Cu(I)-photosensitizer might exhibit both energy-transfer and photoredox catalytic activities in the formation of benzo[b]fluorenols.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bidentate Isonitrile Iron Complexes

The divalent iron complexes trans-[FeBr2(BINC)2], [Cp*FeCl(BINC)] (Cp* = Me5C5), and [FeBr2(CNAr3NC)2] with the chelating bis(isonitrile) ligands BINC (bis(2-isocyanophenyl)phenylphosphonate) and CNAr3NC (2,2″-diisocyano-3,5,3″,5"tetramethyl-1,1':3',1″-terphenyl) have been prepared and characterized. Their subsequent reduction yields the di- and trinuclear compounds [Fe3(BINC)6], [Cp*Fe(BINC)]2, [Fe(CNAr3NC)2]2, and [K(Et2O)]2[Fe(CNAr3NC)2]2. The molecular structures of all new species were determined by X-ray crystallography and compared to those of related iron carbonyl complexes, demonstrating that the bidentate isonitrile ligands are capable surrogates for two CO ligands with only minimal distortion of the tetrahedral or octahedral geometry of the parent complexes. The complexes were further characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, and the electrochemical properties of selected compounds were analyzed by UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry.

Photophysical Properties and Redox Potentials of Photosensitizers for Organic Photoredox Transformations

Photoredox catalysis has proven to be a powerful tool in synthetic organic chemistry. The rational design of photosensitizers with improved photocatalytic performance constitutes a major advancement in photoredox organic transformations. This review summarizes the fundamental ground-state and excited-state photophysical and electrochemical attributes of molecular photosensitizers, which are important determinants of their photocatalytic reactivity.

V, Adhikari D. Visible light photoredox by a (ph,ArNacNac)2Zn photocatalyst: photophysical properties and mechanistic understanding

A zinc photocatalyst has been developed that shows a ligand-centered, long-lived excited state. Under blue light irradiation, it catalyses ATRA type reactions with styrenes.

Copper(i)–iodide cluster structures as functional and processable platform materials

This review provides a complete overview of the progress towards implementation of CuI-nanoclusters in functional materials and devices.

Tertiary Amines Acting as Alkyl Radical Equivalents Enabled by a P/N Heteroleptic Cu(I) Photosensitizer

An unprecedented exploration of tertiary amines as alkyl radical equivalents for cross-coupling with aromatic alkynes to access allylarenes has been achieved by a P/N heteroleptic Cu(I)-based photosensitizer under photoredox catalysis conditions. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction might undergo radical addition of in situ-generated α-amino radical intermediates to alkynes followed by 1,5-hydrogen transfer, C-N bond cleavage, and concomitant isomerization of the resulting allyl radical species.

In situ monitoring of photocatalyzed isomerization reactions on a microchip flow reactor by IR-MALDI ion mobility spectrometry

The visible-light photocatalytic E/Z isomerization of olefins can be mediated by a wide spectrum of triplet sensitizers (photocatalysts). However, the search for the most efficient photocatalysts through screenings in photo batch reactors is material and time consuming. Capillary and microchip flow reactors can accelerate this screening process. Combined with a fast analytical technique for isomer differentiation, these reactors can enable high-throughput analyses. Ion mobility (IM) spectrometry is a cost-effective technique that allows simple isomer separation and detection on the millisecond timescale. This work introduces a hyphenation method consisting of a microchip reactor and an infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (IR-MALDI) ion mobility spectrometer that has the potential for high-throughput analysis. The photocatalyzed E/Z isomerization of ethyl-3-(pyridine-3-yl)but-2-enoate (E-1) as a model substrate was chosen to demonstrate the capability of this device. Classic organic triplet sensitizers as well as Ru-, Ir-, and Cu-based complexes were tested as catalysts. The ionization efficiency of the Z-isomer is much higher at atmospheric pressure which is due to a higher proton affinity. In order to suppress proton transfer reactions by limiting the number of collisions, an IM spectrometer working at reduced pressure (max. 100 mbar) was employed. This design reduced charge transfer reactions and allowed the quantitative determination of the reaction yield in real time. Among 14 catalysts tested, four catalysts could be determined as efficient sensitizers for the E/Z isomerization of ethyl cinnamate derivative E-1. Conversion rates of up to 80% were achieved in irradiation time sequences of 10 up to 180 s. With respect to current studies found in the literature, this reduces the acquisition times from several hours to only a few minutes per scan.

The Different Faces of [Ru(bpy)3Cl2] and fac[Ir(ppy)3] Photocatalysts: Redox Potential Controlled Synthesis of Sulfonylated Fluorenes and Pyrroloindoles from Unactivated Olefins and Sulfonyl Chlorides

A cascade alkene sulfonylation that simultaneously forges C-S and C-C bonds is a highly efficient and powerful approach for directly accessing structurally diverse sulfonylated compounds in a single operation. The reaction was enabled by visible-light-mediated regioselective radical addition of sulfonyl chlorides to 2-arylstyrenes using fac[Ir(ppy)₃] as a photocatalyst, demonstrating its unique role in a photocascade process to execute atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) followed by photocyclization. A new class of sulfonyl-substituted fluorenes and pyrroloindoles, which are useful in the field of photoelectronic materials and medicinal chemistry, was produced in excellent yields by this photocascade reaction. In contrast, the cyclization was interrupted when using the [Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂] catalyst having lower reduction potential, leading only to the formation of a C-S bond and the production of acyclic sulfonylated 2-arylstyrenes under identical reaction conditions. The synthetic utility of the present room-temperature photocatalysis is enhanced by the broad availability of bench-stable sulfonyl chlorides and unactivated olefins, thereby providing a cost-effective and broad-scope protocol.

Evaluating heteroleptic copper(I)-based complexes bearing π-extended diimines in different photocatalytic processes

A series of 12 new copper-based photocatalysts of the type Cu(N^N)(P^P)BF4 were synthesized bearing π-extended diimine ligands. The complexes have red shifted absorptions and larger extinction coefficients than complexes prepared with a parent diimine, dmp. The complexes were evaluated for their ability to promote three different photochemical transformations. Although the complexes were inactive in a reductive PCET process, the complexes afforded good yields in both SET and ET processes. Interestingly, homoleptic copper-complexes derived from the π-extended diimines were significantly more active in SET processes than analogous complexes with simpler diimines.