Perovskites for photocatalytic organic synthesis

A method for photo-catalytic synthesis of an organic molecule comprising:

• a) contacting a lead halide perovskite, first redox substrate, second redox substrate, and solvent to form a mixture, wherein:
• i) the first redox substrate comprises an alkylamine, and the second redox substrate comprises an alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl or alpha, beta-unsaturated nitrile, wherein a carbon-carbon (C—C) bond is formed via carbon-hydrogen activation;
• or
• ii) the first redox substrate comprises an imine or enamine, and the second redox substrate comprises an alpha-halocarbonyl, wherein a carbon-nitrogen (C—N) bond is formed via N-heterocyclization;
• or
• iii) the first redox substrate comprises an enamine or haloaryl, and the second redox substrate comprises an alpha-halocarbonyl or carboxylic acid, wherein a carbon-oxygen (C—O) bond is formed via cross-coupling;
• and
• b) irradiating the mixture at a suitable wavelength to form at least one covalent bond between the first redox substrate and second redox substrate;
• wherein the perovskite photo-catalyzes formation of the C—C, C—N, or C—O bond and the organic molecule is thereby synthesized.