Recent Advances in Iron‐Photocatalyzed Decarboxylative CC Bond Formation

In recent years, iron‐photocatalyzed decarboxylative CC bond formation has emerged as a sustainable and versatile strategy in synthetic chemistry. This approach harnesses earth‐abundant and cost‐effective iron complexes, which undergo ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer under visible‐light irradiation to generate alkyl radicals directly from readily available carboxylic acids. The resulting radical intermediates participate in diverse CC bond‐forming processes, including alkyl−alkyl, alkyl−aryl, and alkyl−alkenyl couplings, enabling rapid access to structurally complex scaffolds from simple feedstock chemicals. In this perspective review, recent progress in substrate scope, catalytic design, and mechanistic understanding, is highlighted with particular emphasis on synthetic applications in late‐stage functionalization and pharmaceutical intermediate construction. These advances not only underscore the unique reactivity of iron photocatalysts but also point toward future opportunities for expanding their utility in green and scalable CC bond‐forming methodologies.