Asymmetric catalysis activated by visible light.

Visible light driven organic chemistry has sparked much excitement over the last several years. This review summarizes recent progress in combining visible light activation with asymmetric catalysis, processes that are either mediated by photoinduced electron or energy transfer. The tasks of photoactivation and asymmetric catalysis are typically accomplished by dual catalyst systems but several recent reports demonstrate that they can also be effectively executed by single catalysts. Beyond the discovery of novel asymmetric transformations under mild reaction conditions, this contemporary area of organic chemistry holds promise for the development of economical and environmentally friendly methods for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral compounds.