Photoredox Catalysis in Organophosphorus Chemistry

The vernal blooming of green chemistry has contributed to the development of visible light catalysis. Active radical species are generated from catalytic amounts of photosensitizers, such as transition-metal complexes and organic dyes, upon visible light irradiation. Stoichiometric amounts of oxidants, reductants, and radical initiators are avoided in most cases. Thus, reactions proceed under milder conditions with a broader functional group tolerance than found by other methods. Photoredox catalysis has been used to form C-C and C-X (X= O, N, and S) bonds but is comparably underdeveloped in organophosphorus chemistry. Herein, we summarize advances in photoredox catalysis that involve organophosphorus chemistry. The synthesis of organophosphorus compounds by photoredox catalysis, transition-metal complex/photoredox dual catalytic systems, and photoredox catalysis with phosphorus organocatalysts are discussed. The shortcomings and possible future trends of this chemistry are also presented.