The use of a readily accessible polyazahelicene as a strongly reducing metal-free alternative to the commonly used precious metal based photoredox catalysts is demonstrated. An improved two-step synthesis of the catalyst is described, and its photophysical properties with respect to its use as a photoredox catalyst are evaluated. Its activity under visible light irradiation is proven by application in two double radical light-driven multicomponent reactions. The azahelicene gave comparable results to an iridium-based catalyst originally used for the same transformations.

This article surveys a range of important platform and high value chemicals that may be considered primary and secondary ‘xylochemicals’. A summary of identified xylochemical substances and their natural sources...