Shining Light on C-S Bonds: Recent Advances in C-C Bond Formation Reactions via C-S Bond Cleavage under Photoredox Catalysis

In recent years, photoredox catalysis has been proved to be a significant and powerful strategy for the activation and the formation of different chemical bonds. In a general sense, these approaches rely on the generation of different active radical species enabled by light from various radical precursors via the cleavage of the corresponding chemical bonds, like C-H bond, C-N bond, C-O bond, C-C bond, C-halo bond, C-S bond and other C-heteroatom bonds. At the same time, these generated active radical intermediates can be used for the construction of various new chemical bonds. In this review, we highlight the generation of various C-centered radicals through the cleavage of C-S bonds enabled by light and their application in the construction of C-C bonds via generally radical pathways. A range of different substrates containing C-S bonds are discussed in this overview to expedite the progress of C-S bond activation and its subsequent functionalization under photoredox catalysis.