Enantioselective reductive couplings and related transformations under cooperative photoredox catalysis

Abstract

The development of catalytic and enantioselective methods for constructing chiral carbon–carbon bonds remains a significant challenge and crucial objective in organic synthesis, as these chiral bonds are ubiquitous in bioactive molecules and natural products. The straightforward construction of chiral C–C bonds through asymmetric reductive coupling of two electrophiles represents one of the most powerful synthetic strategies in modern organic chemistry. Recently, photoredox catalysis has gained considerable attention from the scientific community due to its unique activation mode and significance for sustainable synthesis. The synergistic combination of photoredox catalysis and asymmetric catalysis has emerged as a promising catalytic strategy, offering a potential solution to overcome limitations in traditional asymmetric catalysis. This tutorial review offers a comprehensive overview of enantioselective reductive transformations under cooperative photoredox catalysis, focusing primarily on the synergistic interactions between photocatalysts and transition metals, enzymes, and hydrogen-bonding catalysts, highlighting their significance in understanding and advancing catalytic processes.