The photo-nazarov reaction: Scope and application

  • Shujun Cai
  • , Zheming Xiao
  • , Yingbo Shi
  • , Shuanhu Gao*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

The reaction conditions and scope of the photo-Nazarov reaction of aryl vinyl ketones were investigated. In contrast to the conventional acid-catalyzed methods, this photolytic electrocyclization proceeds in the neutral or basic conditions. Irradiating substrates bearing various aromatic rings, acid-sensitive groups, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, and unsaturated pyran with UV-light (254 nm) smoothly yielded hexahydrofluorenones and related structures. This photo-Nazarov reaction could also be applicable to the substrates carrying β-alkyl groups on the enone, which gave corresponding polycyclic rings containing quaternary centers. These photo-electrocyclized products may prove useful for synthesizing a variety of natural products and their derivatives. Further application of this mild photo-Nazarov reaction in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinol B was achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8677-8681
Number of pages5
JournalChemistry - A European Journal
Volume20
Issue number28
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Jul 2014

Keywords

  • cyclization
  • electrocyclic reactions
  • ketones
  • natural products
  • photochemistry
  • synthetic methods

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