Addition and cycloaddition reactions via photoinduced electron transfer

Abstract

This review article deals with addition and cycloaddition reactions of organic compounds via photoinduced electron transfer. Various reactive species such as exciplex, triplex, radical ion pair and free radical ions are generated via photoinduced electron transfer reactions. These reactive species have their characteristic reactivities and discrimination among these species provides selective photoreactions. The solvent and salt effects and also the effects of electron transfer sensitizers on photoinduced electron transfer reactions can be applied to the selective generation of the reactive species. Examples and mechanistic features of photoaddition and photocycloaddition reactions that proceed via the following steps are given: reactions of radical cations with nucleophiles; reactions of radical anions with electrophiles; reactions of radical cations and radical anions with neutral radicals; radical-radical coupling reactions; addition and cycloaddition reactions via triplexes; three-component addition reactions.