Near‐Infrared‐Light‐Driven Photochemistry and Photocatalysis: Mechanisms, Recent Applications, and Opportunities in Organic Synthesis and Biology

Abstract

ABSTRACT Near‐infrared (NIR) photochemistry and photocatalysis have emerged as powerful extensions of analogous visible‐light methods, offering unique advantages, such as deeper penetration through opaque media, minimal background absorption, reduced scattering, more selective photon absorption, and enhanced safety profiles. These properties enable reactivity in complex environments, are more amenable to scale‐up in batch processes, and permit reactions in biological settings that remain challenging for traditional ultraviolet and visible‐light manifolds. This minireview focuses exclusively on the true NIR regime (700–1000 nm) and integrates both synthetic and biological perspectives, which establish this area as a rapidly expanding frontier with broad opportunities. Emphasis is placed on contributions reported since 2019.