The disclosure relates to benzo[ghi]perylene imide photoredox catalysts (PC) and methods for the Birch reductions of aromatic substrates, such as benzene, benzeneoid, and heteroaromatic compounds, using light as the driving force. Certain aspects of the disclosure encompass methods for reduction of aromatic substrates. The method comprises contacting an aromatic substrate with a sacrificial electron donor in the presence of a photoredox catalyst in a solvent, thereby forming a reaction mixture; exposing the reaction mixture to visible or UV light under reaction condition sufficient to reduce the aromatic substrate compound.