Asymmetric induction in photocatalysis – Discovering a new side to light-driven chemistry

Abstract

The state of asymmetric photocatalysis is exceptionally promising, as chemists from different fields and backgrounds have converged to solve a longstanding issue: stereocontrol in photochemistry. As a strategy that relies heavily on the elevated reactivity of radical intermediates, managing to suppress the background racemic reactions in favor of the stereoselective processes is a challenging endeavor many researchers have embarked on. In order to tackle this matter, conceptually diverse activation modes have been developed, obtaining valuable results across mechanistically-distinct types of reactions, all while setting the stage for future breakthroughs in the field.