CCVC Seminar: Dr. Tomislav Rovis - Controlling Catalysis with Visible Light

Visible light is an abundant energy source that can also be delivered on demand. Harnessing the energy in visible light has recently been accomplished through the use of photoredox catalysis, which can generate radical intermediates by an oxidation or reduction step to initiate a bond formation followed by a return of the electron or hole to close the catalytic cycle. We have been engaged in expanding the versatility of visible light photoredox catalysis and have uncovered strategies to effect C-H activation in unactivated positions of alkanes as well as controlling catalysis spatially and temporally. Reaction development, mechanistic investigations and synthetic applications will be the subject of this lecture.