Four different iridium(III) polypyridyl complexes with varying excited state lifetimes are used as photocatalysts to study the effect of excited state lifetime on the rate of a prototypical photoredox-catalyzed reaction, the trifluoromethylation of quinoline. An improved mechanistic understanding of the photocatalysis is achieved, enabling guided optimization of reaction conditions and elucidating the role of the photocatalyst excited state lifetime on the rate of photocatalysis.
