Abstract

This tutorial review of the state of the art of organic reactions taking place with the help of photocatalysis provides definition of photocatalysis, considers major types of photocatalysts and reactors used for organic photocatalytic reactions. Important classes of photocatalytic organic reactions are exemplified: oxidation, reduction and hydrogenation, isomerization, cyclization, cycloaddition, substitution, formation of C-C bond, carbonylation, addition to double bond, dehydrogenation, decarboxylation, reduction of CO2 and photosynthesis mimicking. Some examples of industrial-scale reactions are adduced. It is concluded that modern acceleration of the research on photocatalytic organic reactions would undoubtedly lead to wider industrial applications of photocatalysis, especially solar photocatalysis, in the next ten years.

Keywords: Electron transfer, Energy transfer, Hydrogen abstraction, Sensitizer, Sensitized reactions, Singlet oxygen, Synthesis, Visible light