Photochemical Synthesis and Ring-Opening of Aziridines and Epoxides: State-of-the-Art

The development of greener methods for the preparation of three-membered rings has increased in the last decade, not only due to their biological activity but also to the ring strain of those heterocycles that make them useful precursors of more complex molecules. In this work, the visible-light-promoted synthesis and ring-opening of aziridines and epoxides, reported in the last five years, were reviewed. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts were discussed and, in addition, the plausible mechanism pathways were highlighted.