Interplay between molecular electrochemistry and light in mechanistic investigations

The introduction of light absorption steps in organic and organometallic synthetic processes has enlarged the scope of accessible intermediates, featuring photoexcited species with both strong reducing and oxidizing properties. Nowadays, two approaches use the absorption of visible light to carry out new organic reactions, namely photoredox catalysis and electrophotocatalysis. The intent of this review is to show how molecular electrochemistry can be a powerful analytical technique for obtaining thermodynamic and kinetic information in these new light-integrated reactions, and also constitute a complementary approach to photochemical investigations. The development of reactions involving a photoactivation step should strengthen the links between the photochemical and electrochemical communities.