AbbVie Symposium

     Single electron pathways are prevalent in numerous biosynthetic pathways that are crucial to life on our planet.  As synthetic chemists, we seek to harness the power of these open-shell processes to achieve uncommon but valuable chemical reactivity.  To this end, my laboratory is interested in accessing single electron pathways via the use of organic photoredox catalysis.  This lecture will highlight the recent synthetic methods developed by my laboratory, including anti-maokovnikov hydrofunctionalizations of alkenes and C‑H functionalization reactions of aromatic compounds.  Mechanistic tools such as time resolved and steady state absorption spectroscopy shed light on the mechanism and will be presented in the lecture.  Lastly, recently applications to the use of photoredox catalysis for biological applications will be discussed.