# Base Metal Photocatalysts: A Bright Future in Photoredox Catalysis?

## TL;DR

This paper explores using common base metals instead of rare ones in light-driven chemical reactions to make the process more sustainable.

## Contribution

The paper reviews strategies and recent examples of using base metal photocatalysts for sustainable chemical synthesis.

## Key findings

- Base metal photocatalysts can replace precious metals in photoredox reactions.
- Recent examples show base metals can be effective in various chemical transformations.
- Using base metals reduces environmental impact and reliance on scarce resources.

## Abstract

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.