Photocatalytic Multi-Component Reactions: An Emerging Avenue

In recent years, photocatalytic multi-component reactions have emerged as a cutting-edge innovation in the field of organic synthesis. These reactions allow the simultaneous transformation of multiple reactants, which not only saves time and resources but also provides access to a diverse range of complex molecules. The use of photocatalysts in these reactions provides several advantages, including mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, and high functional group tolerance. Moreover, the integration of renewable energy sources such as visible light as a driving force for these reactions further adds to their sustainability. This innovation has opened up new avenues for the synthesis of complex molecules and holds great promise for the development of sustainable and efficient chemical processes. This review gives a broad understanding of photocatalyzed multi-component reaction protocols developed with wide applications in synthetic organic chemistry. These green, efficient, and straightforward reactions utilize recyclable photocatalyst, solvent-free or catalyst-free conditions for the synthesis of compounds with biological significance in a cost-effective fashion. They are easily purified due to the minimum or no by-product formation. The review is divided into sections based on the type of photocatalysts involved and covers literature up to 2022.