Semiconductor nanoparticles photocatalyze precise organic cycloaddition

Photochemistry has been developed as a powerful tool for organic transformations, such as photoredox catalysis, photocycloaddition, and photoisomerization. Traditional photochemistry relies on molecular photosensitizers. Recently in Chem Catalysis, Weiss and colleagues applied semiconductor nanoparticles as photosensitizers to drive [2 + 2] cycloaddition of aryl-conjugated dienes with high chemo- and stereoselectivity.