Photochemical Strategies for Carbon–Heteroatom Bond Formation

Photochemistry enables new synthetic means to form carbon–heteroatom bonds. Photocatalysts can catalyze carbon–heteroatom cross‐couplings by electron or energy transfer either alone or in combination with a second catalyst. Photocatalyst‐free methods are possible using photolabile substrates or by generating photoactive electron donor‐acceptor complexes. This review summarizes and discusses the strategies used in light‐mediated carbon–heteroatom bond formations based on the proposed mechanisms.