Industrial Applications of Photochemical Syntheses

Abstract The principal industrial applications of photochemistry have so far been in the fields of free‐radical chlorination, sulfochlorination, sulfoxidation, and nitrosation. In addition, however, photochemical reactions are being utilized on an increasing scale for the synthesis of vitamins, drugs, and fragrances. The present article surveys the various kinds of light‐induced reactions exploited industrially, the equipment developed, and uses of the photochemical products. Furthermore, the problems encountered in designing a photochemical production plant are discussed for the example of photonitrosation of cyclohexane.