Chlorophyll: the ubiquitous photocatalyst of nature and its potential as an organo-photocatalyst in organic syntheses

Abstract

Chlorophyll, the principal photoacceptor of green plants, plays a pivotal role in photosynthesis. In the recent past, chlorophyll has also been utilized as an efficient organo-photocatalyst in several organic syntheses. The inexpensive, ubiquitous nature of chlorophyll endorses it as an appealing green alternative to transition metal photocatalysts. This review is the first attempt to showcase and analyze the photocatalytic activity of chlorophyll in effecting different organic transformations. We intend to provide a holistic overview of the role of chlorophyll starting from photosynthesis to its contemporary synthetic applications in visible light photocatalysis. In addition, the photophysical and electrochemical properties of chlorophyll are elaborated to attain a clearer understanding of its mode of action as a visible light photocatalyst.