Issue 23, 2024

Near-infrared photocatalysis with cyanines: synthesis, applications and perspectives

Abstract

Cyanines are organic dyes bearing two aza-heterocycles linked by a polymethine chain. Excited states, fluorescence, redox activity, and energy transfer are interesting properties of cyanines which have been used by chemists. Moreover, they are easily accessible and highly tunable. For all these reasons, cyanines are often selected for applications like fluorescent probes, phototherapy and photovoltaics. However, considering cyanines as photocatalysts is a new field of investigation and has been sparsely reported in the literature. This field of research has been launched on the basis of near-infrared light photocatalysis. With a deeper NIR light penetration, the irradiation is compatible with biological tissues. Due to the longer wavelengths that are involved, the safety of the operator can be guaranteed. In this perspective review, the photophysical/redox properties of cyanines are reported as well as their preparations and applications in modern synthetic approaches. Finally, recent examples of cyanine-based NIR-photocatalysis are discussed including photopolymerization and organic synthesis.

Graphical abstract: Near-infrared photocatalysis with cyanines: synthesis, applications and perspectives

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Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
02 2 2024
Accepted
01 5 2024
First published
01 5 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 8639-8650

Near-infrared photocatalysis with cyanines: synthesis, applications and perspectives

N. Sellet, J. Frey, M. Cormier and J. Goddard, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 8639 DOI: 10.1039/D4SC00814F

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