Research Projects

Visible light-mediated photo-redox catalysis has emerged as one of the most fascinating areas of research in organic synthesis. The application of photo-catalysts as a means of harvesting light energy has been extensively studied, but its application for organic synthesis using visible light is relatively less explored. Typically, a photoactive catalyst absorbs light in the visible region and participates in the single electron transfer process with organic substrates. This is a mild, economical and environmentally friendly approach to promote radical-based organic transformations to unlock unique reaction pathways. Visible light activation of traditional substrates to reactive intermediates at room temperature has influenced various functionalization reactions that otherwise require high energy influx. Another striking change manifests the use of organic photo-redox catalysts as an alternative to transition metal (Ru & Ir) based photocatalysts due to its low cost, high solubility and eco-safety. Thus, the visible light organic photo-redox catalysis is more captivating, and has recently stimulated the organic chemists to ensure sustainable, facile and rapid entry to the high valued products under mild conditions. In the present proposal, we intend to adopt fresh strategies involving photo-redox catalysis to accomplish some unknown organic transformation using inexpensive and readily available reactants, followed by the application of the developed methodology to achieve some biologically useful molecules. The main theme of the proposal is to develop innovative protocols for the construction of carbon-carbon, carbon-heteroatom, and heteroatom-heteroatom bonds, with simultaneous creation of molecular complexity having provision of the functional groups in the resulting products for further embellishment/libraries synthesis.