Photocatalytic Functionalization of Inert or Unsaturated Bonds

Photocatalysis has become a powerful synthetic tool and attracted extensive attention in recent years, since it enables many challenging reactions occurring under mild reaction conditions via a radical process. In particular, the generation of radical species from cleavage of inert bonds has considerably increased the diversity and complexity of radical synthons and capture of these radicals by alkenes or alkynes is an efficient pathway to construct a variety of sp³ or sp² C-X bonds. Therefore, despite significant developments having been achieved in this field, exploration of new photocatalytic strategies to proceed functionalization of inert bonds or unsaturated compounds is in high demand to achieve previously unattainable compounds.

Previous research devotes much attention to the well-known radical precursors and mono-functionalization of simple alkenes. In order to inspire the research in this area, we want to discuss the previously challenging transformations of inert bonds such as C-H, C-X, or N-S bonds via photocatalysis in this Research Topic. Multiple, stereoselective, and regio-divergent functionalization of alkenes, alkynes, or other unsaturated compounds is also of interest. This Research Topic also welcomes experimental or computational study of catalytic mechanisms involving photo-redox or electron donor and acceptor (EDA) pathways, which would be beneficial for the design of new photocatalysts and catalytic systems.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Functionalization of new unsaturated bonds via photocatalysis
• Light-mediated activation of inert bonds
• Mechanism investigation, including experimental research and theoretical/computational
• Exploration of new photocatalytic systems
• New photocatalyst design