Sulfur- and nitrogen- containing functional groups are fundamental constituents of
bioactive molecules and pharmaceuticals, exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities.
Recent advances in visible-light-mediated photochemistry have enabled more sustainable
and efficient synthetic approaches. This review highlights the emerging strategy of
difunctionalization via S-N bond cleavage using bifunctional reagent under visible
light irradiation. Key reactions discussed include imino-sulfonylation, imino-sulfamoylation,
thiocyanato-imination, and related processes, which enable the simultaneous introduction
of sulfur and nitrogen functionalities into alkenes, alkynes, and strained ring systems.
Mechanistic pathways involving energy transfer or single-electron transfer facilitate
selective radical generation and subsequent cross-coupling, offering broad substrate
scope and excellent functional group tolerance. This review provides a critical analysis
of current methodologies and outlines future directions for the continued advancement
of this rapidly evolving field.
