Research Progress in Photocatalytic Organic Transformation: From Materials to Applications

Photocatalytic organic transformation, as a mild, green, and environmentally friendly synthesis method, has attracted increasing attention as a sustainable development scheme to address the global energy crisis and environmental problems. At present, a variety of materials have been used to develop various photocatalytic organic conversion reactions. The development of high-efficiency photocatalytic materials, which necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their catalytic mechanisms, is essential to enhancing the performance of photocatalytic organic transformation. However, only a few studies summarize and discuss the results of research on materials and mechanisms involved in photocatalytic organic transformation. In this review, we aim to cover the development of photocatalysts, including metal and its oxide materials, organic semiconductors, metal-organic frameworks, covalent-organic frameworks, and other materials. Then, the general mechanisms, unique advantages, and strategies in photocatalysis synthesis are discussed. In addition, it also provides an overview of applications in various organic reactions, such as oxidation, reduction, coupling, cyclization, and asymmetric synthesis. Finally, we summarize the challenges and prospects of material design and reaction mechanisms in photocatalytic organic synthesis in the future.