Photocatalyst‐ and Transition‐Metal‐Free Light‐Induced Formation of Carbon‐Chalcogen Bonds

Abstract

Photoinduced chemical transformations have become a promising aspect of organic synthesis. This review focuses on the recent advancements in harnessing photoinduced processes for the formation of carbon‐chalcogen (C−O, C−S, C−Se, and C−Te) bonds under catalyst‐free conditions. These pathways typically involve either a radical mechanism or the creation of electron‐donor‐acceptor (EDA) complexes. The review explores the intricacies of the underlying mechanisms, discusses limitations, and evaluates the applicability of various methodologies in this field. Notably, photocatalyst and transition metal‐free photochemical reactions offer effective alternatives to enhance sustainability in this research area.

Transition‐Metal Free Arylation of Therapeutically Important Heterocycles

“…In that direction, several transition metal-free synthetic methodologies have already been developed. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Arylation reaction has vast potential in generating a variety of biologically active scaffolds and materials with diverse applications. A few review articles have been published recently that advocate the importance of transition metal-free arylation.…”

Sustainable Synthesis through Catalyst‐Free Photoinduced Cascaded Bond Formation

“…[9] Conversely, the light-induced approach without photocatalysts or transition metals has been acknowledged as a significant breakthrough, providing improved selectivity and reactivity under ambient conditions. [10] This environmentally friendly strategy operates without the need for costly catalysts, moisture-controlled settings, or hazardous transition metals, relying instead on distinctive mechanistic pathways.…”