Photochemical Reactions of Sulfur Ylides

Photochemical reactions offer unparalleled opportunities to access elusive chemical pathways and develop innovative strategies for constructing complex molecules. Within organic synthesis, photochemical reactions have become indispensable tools for accessing complex molecular structures, such as pharmaceuticals and natural products. The ability of sulfur ylides to participate in these diverse processes has made them indispensable tools in the synthetic chemist's toolbox. The use of sulfur ylides in photochemical transformations has garnered significant attention in the synthetic organic chemistry community, and they serve as powerful intermediates in several chemical transformations. This review article presents a comprehensive overview of the photochemical reactions mediated by sulfur ylides. Herein, we describe the key aspects of the reactivity of sulfur ylides in the presence of light. The reactivity of these compounds can be classified into three categories: sulfur ylides as energy acceptors, as electron donors, and as trapping reagents.