Light‐Promoted Organic Transformations Utilizing Carbon‐Based Gas Molecules as Feedstocks

Carbon‐based gas molecules are readily available feedstocks and are widely used in industry as building blocks or fuels. However, their application in the synthesis of fine chemicals has been hampered due to operational complexity, poor reaction efficiency and selectivity. Recent development of photoredox‐promoted transformations using such gaseous reagents has received considerable attention from the synthetic community. In this review, efforts in developing light‐promoted organic transformations using carbon‐based natural gases as C1 or C2 feedstocks and to overcome the associated challenges are briefly summarized. Photo‐mediated fixation of carbon‐based gas molecules: C−C bond formation utilizing carbon‐based small gas molecules, including CO, CO2, acetylene, ethylene, ethane and methane, as feedstocks is attractive but challenging. The emergence of photoredox chemistry and the development of engineered flow technology have provided vast opportunities for gas conversions, which has gained tremendous momentum over the past decade.