Aldehydes as powerful initiators for photochemical transformations

Maria A Theodoropoulou; Nikolaos F Nikitas; Christoforos G Kokotos

doi:10.3762/bjoc.16.76

Aldehydes as powerful initiators for photochemical transformations

Beilstein J Org Chem. 2020 Apr 23:16:833-857. doi: 10.3762/bjoc.16.76. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Maria A Theodoropoulou¹, Nikolaos F Nikitas¹, Christoforos G Kokotos¹

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 15784, Greece.

Abstract

Photochemistry, the use of light to promote organic transformations, has been known for more than a century but only recently has revolutionized the way modern chemists are thinking. Except from transition metal-based complexes, small organic molecules have been introduced as catalysts or initiators. In this review, we summarize the potential that (aromatic or aliphatic) aldehydes have as photoinitiators. The photophysical properties and photoreactivity of benzaldehyde are initially provided, followed by applications of aldehydes as initiators for polymerization reactions. Finally, the applications to date regarding aldehydes as photoinitiators in organic synthesis are presented.

Keywords: aldehyde; green chemistry; photochemistry; photoinitiation; sustainable chemistry.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for financial support. C. G. K. would like to thank the John Latsis Foundation for financial support through the programme “EPISTHMONIKES MELETES 2015” (PhotoOrganocatalysis: Development of new environmentally-friendly methods for the synthesis of compounds for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry). N. F. N. would like to thank the State Scholarship Foundation (IKY) for financial support through a doctoral fellowship, which is cofinanced by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund, (ESF)) through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning” in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ). C. G. K. would like to thank the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) for financial support through a grant that is financed by 1st Call for HFRI Research Projects to Support Faculty Members & Researchers and Procure High-Value Research Equipment (grant number 655).