Visible-Light-Promoted Oxidative [4 + 2] Cycloadditions of Aryl Silyl Enol Ethers.

Visible-light-promoted oxidative [4 + 2] cycloadditions of ε,3-unsaturated silyl enol ethers have been developed to efficiently and diastereoselectively construct polycyclic skeletons under mild conditions. The diastereoselectivities were dependent on the stereoconfiguration of silyl enol ether, substitutions on the link, as well as electric properties of substitutions on aryl rings. The intermediates could be trapped by TEMPO, oxygen or methanol. Mechanistic studies indicated the reaction was initiated by one-electron oxidation of the silyl enol ether.