Immobilization and Continuous Recycling of Photoredox Catalysts in Ionic Liquids for Applications in Batch Reactions and Flow Systems: Catalytic Alkene Isomerization by Using Visible Light

A catalytic (E)- to (Z)-isomerization of olefins using a photoredox catalyst under mild reaction conditions is presented. A variety of (Z)-alkenes can be prepared in the presence of visible light. A new reaction system allows an easy and efficient scale-up, as well as a continuous flow process in which the photocatalyst is immobilized in an ionic liquid and continuously recycled by simple phase separation.