Novel Enhancement of Diastereoselectivity of [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition of Chiral Cyclohexenones to Ethylene by Adding Naphthalenes

A Thioxanthone Sensitizer with a Chiral Phosphoric Acid Binding Site: Properties and Applications in Visible Light-Mediated Cycloadditions

A chiral phosphoric acid with a 2,2'-binaphthol core was prepared that displays two thioxanthone moieties at the 3,3'-position as light-harvesting antennas. Despite its relatively low triplet energy, the phosphoric acid was found to be an efficient catalyst for the enantioselective intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of β-carboxyl-substituted cyclic enones (e.r. up to 93:7). Binding of the carboxylic acid to the sensitizer is suggested by NMR studies and by DFT calculations to occur by means of two hydrogen bonds. The binding event not only enables an enantioface differentiation but also modulates the triplet energy of the substrates.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Cyclobutanes by Olefin [2 + 2] Photocycloaddition Reactions

The [2 + 2] photocycloaddition is undisputedly the most important and most frequently used photochemical reaction. In this review, it is attempted to cover all recent aspects of [2 + 2] photocycloaddition chemistry with an emphasis on synthetically relevant, regio-, and stereoselective reactions. The review aims to comprehensively discuss relevant work, which was done in the field in the last 20 years (i.e., from 1995 to 2015). Organization of the data follows a subdivision according to mechanism and substrate classes. Cu(I) and PET (photoinduced electron transfer) catalysis are treated separately in sections 2 and 4 , whereas the vast majority of photocycloaddition reactions which occur by direct excitation or sensitization are divided within section 3 into individual subsections according to the photochemically excited olefin.

Diastereoselective photodimerization reactions of chromone-2-carboxamides to construct a C2-chiral scaffold

Irradiation of three chromone-2-carboxamides with a chiral auxiliary resulted in diastereoselective formation of a C2-chiral anti-HH dimer scaffold. Selection of the solvent polarity and decreasing the temperature resulted in asymmetric induction with up to 84% diastereomeric excess (de).

Synthesis of diastereometrically pure cubane-like photodimers from 2,4-pentanediyl-bis-2-naphthoates

Irradiation of (2R,4R)-(-)- and (2S,4S)-(+)-2,4-pentanediyl-bis-2-naphthoates (1R and 1S, respectively) in organic solutions exclusively results in cubane-like anti(HH) photodimers in 100% yield. Asymmetric induction with 100% diastereometric excess (de) has been achieved and the absolute configuration of the yielded diastereomers has been established. Moreover, irradiation of (2R,4S)-2,4-pentanediyl-bis-2-naphthoate (1M) gives cubane-like syn(HH) photodimers in 100% yield.

Diastereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of chiral cyclic enones with olefins in aqueous media using surfactants

We conducted diastereodifferentiating [2+2] photocycloadditions of cyclo-hexenones modified with a chiral 8-(p-methoxy phenyl)menthyl auxiliary with olefins in water. Although the photoreaction didn't proceed at all in pure water owing to very low solubility, the use of surfactants [sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or dodecylamine hydrochloride (DAH)] and additive (organic solvent) enabled the reactions to progress with moderate to high conversions and yields. Furthermore, we synthesized a new menthol derivative substrate containing a (p-octyloxy)phenyl group for enhancing hydrophobicity, and elucidated that this new substrate was found to be a suitable chiral auxiliary in this asymmetric photoreaction in aqueous system. The additive effect of organic molecules on the yield and diastereoselectivity of the photo-adducts is also discussed.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)-Linderol A

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-Linderol A, a potent inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis of cultured B-16 melanoma cells, has been achieved via two key reactions: a diastereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of a coumarin-3-carboxylate bearing a chiral auxiliary with 3-methyl-1-butene and a subsequent stereoconvergent transformation of the photoadducts with use of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide to afford a tetrahydrodibenzofuran derivative.

Cleavable Chiral Auxiliaries in 8π (8π, 6π) Electrocyclizations

[reaction: see text] Low to moderate diastereoselectivity was observed in the 8pi electrocyclization of a series of chiral auxiliary-bearing tetraenic esters. In the 8-arylmenthyl series, diastereomeric products were separated by chromatography.

Cycloaddition between Electron-Deficient π-Systems, Photochemical and Radical-Induced Reactions: A Novel, General, and Stereoselective Route to Polyfunctionalized Bridged Bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, Bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, Bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes, and Tricyclo[4.3.1.03,7]decanes

A novel, general, and stereoselective route to functionalized bridged bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes, and tricyclo[4.3.1.0(3,7)]decanes has been described. Various functionalized and substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes endowed with a beta,gamma-enone chromophore were synthesized via cycloaddition of in situ generated cyclohexa-2,4-dienones with electron-deficient 2pi partners and manipulation of the resulting adducts. Triplet sensitized irradiation of bridged bicyclooctenones led to synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]octanoids, whereas the direct irradiation furnished bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes in stereoselective fashion as a result of modulation of reactivity in excited states. Further, manipulation of the adducts led to appropriately appended and functionalized bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes that upon radical induced cyclization provided an efficient and stereoselective route to the tricyclo[4.3.1.0(3,7)]decane (isotwistane) framework of pupukeananes.