Photochemical Strategies for Carbon–Heteroatom Bond Formation

Abstract

Photochemistry enables new synthetic means to form carbon–heteroatom bonds. Photocatalysts can catalyze carbon–heteroatom cross-couplings by electron or energy transfer either alone or in combination with a second catalyst. Photocatalyst-free methods are possible using photolabile substrates or by generating photoactive electron donor-acceptor complexes. This review summarizes and discusses the strategies used in light-mediated carbon–heteroatom bond formations based on the proposed mechanisms.