ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview on the factors that significantly influence the efficiency of a semiconductor-mediated photocatalytic process. Representative organic functional group transformations that have synthetic importance will be reviewed in the order of oxidative, reductive, and combined redox transformations. Photochemical reactions on semiconductor particles can be divided into two categories: semiconductor-mediated photocatalysis and direct photolytic transformation of substrates adsorbed on semiconductor particles. Semiconductor photocatalysis begins with photoexcitation of semiconductor particles, whereas direct photolytic reactions start with excitation of the organic substrate. A semiconductor system such as a carefully designed dye sensitization or composite semiconductor system that retains the redox desired potentials may tolerate a higher reactant concentration. Semiconductor modifications also may have surface properties for selective adsorption of the target reactant and/or intermediates. Overall, there are tremendous challenges and opportunities for research and development in the area of nanocrystalline semiconductor particles for organic synthesis.
