Light-Controlled Metal Catalyzed Reactions
Light has emerged as a powerful tool in the field of transition metal-catalyzed reactions, offering unprecedented opportunities to control and modulate reaction rate or outcomes. This seminar explores the fascinating area of light-switchable transition metal catalysis, where the use of photoresponsive ligands and complexes, such as azobenzene, dithienylethene, and overcrowded alkane-based ligands, allows for the manipulation of reaction rate or pathway The presentation highlights the pioneering work of researchers in designing and synthesizing light-responsive metal complexes with conformational or electronic changes upon light irradiation, resulting in altered reactivity and selectivity. The seminar further delves into the diverse applications of light-switchable transition metal catalysis, including hydroboration reactions, epoxidation of alkenes, and asymmetric transformations. Mechanistic insights into these processes, as revealed through computational studies and spectroscopic techniques, are discussed to provide a deeper understanding of the underlying principles. The integration of light as an external stimulus for controlling transition metal-catalyzed reactions paves the way for precise reaction control and opens up new avenues for sustainable and efficient catalytic processes. This seminar aims to inspire researchers and chemists to explore the potential of light-switchable catalysis in various synthetic applications.