Photocatalyst‐ and Transition‐Metal‐Free Light‐Induced Formation of Carbon‐Chalcogen Bonds

Abstract Photoinduced chemical transformations have become a promising aspect of organic synthesis. This review focuses on the recent advancements in harnessing photoinduced processes for the formation of carbon‐chalcogen (C−O, C−S, C−Se, and C−Te) bonds under catalyst‐free conditions. These pathways typically involve either a radical mechanism or the creation of electron‐donor‐acceptor (EDA) complexes. The review explores the intricacies of the underlying mechanisms, discusses limitations, and evaluates the applicability of various methodologies in this field. Notably, photocatalyst and transition metal‐free photochemical reactions offer effective alternatives to enhance sustainability in this research area.