Applications of Sensitized Semiconductors as Heterogeneous Visible-Light Photocatalysts in Organic Synthesis

The industrial transition to more-sustainable chemical manufacturing requires the development of a variety of high-performance heterogeneous catalysts. Recently, new classes of heterogeneous and recyclable catalysts that exploit visible-light activation have emerged in the field of organic synthesis. Among these systems, sensitized semiconductors occupy a strategic place as they are able to initiate single electron transfer processes under heterogeneous conditions and using medium-to-low energy light activation. This technology can promote a range of synthetically useful reactions, such as oxidations, reductions, or additions, including C-C bond formation, under very mild conditions and with high selectivity. Sensitized semiconductors have been known for decades in solar cell technologies (the so-called Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells) but applications in organic synthesis are only very recent. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms, reactivity, and scope of this technology, with a focus on their new and promising synthetic applications.