Facilitating [2+2] Photocycloadditions by Promoting Oxygen Tolerance and Substrate Activation in Water

Micellar photocatalysis allows for a simple and benign reaction set-up using water as the solvent without need oxygen-removing protocols. Blue light (456 nm) is absorbed by photocatalyst [2+2] photocycloaddition to occur between α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds activated alkenes. The observed reactivity aldehydes completely turned on use of micellar solution opposed organic solvents. More information can be found in Research Article L. Næsborg co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202300627).