Mineral-to-molecule arsenic transfer via photoredox catalysis

Few elements exemplify the duality of chemistry-where utility and toxicity depend on application-as strikingly as arsenic. Throughout history, arsenic has played a pivotal role in human civilization, and its influence endures in modern science through organoarsenicals, compounds featuring As-C bonds. However, the synthesis of these molecules has long been constrained by multistep processes reliant on hazardous arsenical reagents, limiting their practical adoption. Here we show a transformative mineral-to-molecule approach that leverages photoredox catalysis to directly convert naturally occurring arsenic sulfide minerals-particularly orpiment (As₂S₃)-into diverse organoarsenicals under visible-light irradiation. By reacting mineral-derived arsenic with organic iodides, our method bypasses toxic intermediates, enabling the efficient, one-step construction of functionalized arsenicals with broad structural diversity. Demonstrated across a wide range of substrates, this strategy establishes a safe, sustainable and scalable route to organoarsenicals, overcoming long-standing challenges in arsenic chemistry. Bridging geochemistry and synthetic chemistry, our work provides a blueprint for eco-friendly molecular manufacturing, transforming Earth's mineral resources into high-value functional molecules.