Base Metal Photocatalysts: A Bright Future in Photoredox Catalysis?

Photoredox catalysis is widely considered as a more sustainable alternative for performing chemical synthesis, using low-energy visible-light photons as traceless reagents to achieve the desired reactivity under mild conditions. While this has led to significant improvements in sustainability for many transformations, the environmental impact of the photocatalysts themselves is often overlooked, with many methods relying on precious metals with uncertain long-term availability. One solution that remains underexplored is the development of photocatalysts using earth-abundant base metals. This tutorial review discusses current strategies for designing effective base metal photocatalysts and highlights recent notable examples of their implementation in photoredox-catalyzed transformations.