GDCh-Kolloquium Prof. Dr. Oliver Reiser

Copper makes the difference: Developing Sustainable Photoredox Catalyzed Transformations

Synthetic organic chemistry undertakes significant efforts to develop new catalytic transformations that utilize greener reagents and avoid stoichiometric additives. In this regard, visible-light photoredox catalysis offers a unique activation mode of molecules, which serves as an alternative to many thermal transition-metals catalyzed reactions. The vast majority of photoredox-catalyzed processes capitalizes on heavy metals, namely, Ru(II) or Ir(III)-complexes which can serve as single electron oxidants or reductants in their photoexcited states.