Looking back on the past year in photochemistry, we want to recognize 24 of our favorite papers that tickled our brains in 2024.

Looking back on the past year in photochemistry, we want to recognize 24 of our favorite papers that tickled our brains in 2024.

The adoption of new and emerging techniques in organic synthesis is essential to promote innovation in drug discovery. In this Perspective, we detail the strategy we used for the systematic deployment of photoredox-mediated, metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in AbbVie’s medicinal chemistry organization, focusing on topics such as assessment, evaluation, implementation, and accessibility. The comprehensive evaluation of photoredox reaction setups and published methods will be discussed, along with internal efforts to build expertise and photoredox high-throughput experimentation capabilities. We also highlight AbbVie’s academic–industry collaborations in this field that have been leveraged to develop new synthetic strategies, along with discussing the internal adoption of photoredox cross-coupling reactions. The work described herein has culminated in robust photocatalysis and cross-coupling capabilities which are viewed as key platforms for medicinal chemistry research at AbbVie.

Is pulsing light in a photocatalysis reaction like flipping on the strobes at a dance party—does it shift the vibe enough to change outcomes?

Is pulsing light in a photocatalysis reaction like flipping on the strobes at a dance party—does it shift the vibe enough to change outcomes?

This month, we look at purple and red LEDs and everything in between. The world is full of color so why is everyone so blue?