Photocycloaddition of Nonconjugated Alkenes

According to the Woodward-Hoffmann rules, the concerted [2S + 2J cycloaddition with two alkenes is photochemically symmetry-allowed, but is symmetry-forbidden at the ground state [9]. Photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition, in which one of two alkene partners is electronically excited, has been applied to the synthesis of cage hydrocarbons [10]. In such transformations, the intramolecular version of the reaction is particular efficient. The transformation of compound 1, in which two 

Interestingly, when using copper(I)triflate, the cyclopentadiene dimer 14 reacts in an intermolecular way, leading to the cydobutane 15 (reaction 5) [22], When the same substrate is transformed in the presence of the triplet sensitizer acetone, an intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition takes place and the cage hydrocarbon compound 16 is formed. Obviously, the formation of a copper complex intermediate involving both alkene double bonds of the substrate is unfavorable in this case. 

Due to its versatile applicability, the CuOTf-catalyzed [2 + 2] photocycloaddition was used successfully to study the topology of the intermolecular and intramolecular dimerization of norbomene derivates. When a racemic mixture of compound 27 is transformed in the presence of CuOTf, a 1 1 mixture of two stereoisomers (28a,b) is 

3h was required (see reactions 13 and 14), while the intermolecular reaction was complete after 56 h (reaction 12). 

A large number of [2 + 2] photocycloadditions ofvinylarene compounds have been reported in the literature [37], and these are particular suitable for the synthesis of cyclophanes. Based on the fact that conjugation between the olefinic and aromatic 11-systems is rather low, these reactions can be compared to corresponding reactions with nonconjugated alkenes. 

---

Malik, C.K., Vaultier, M., and Ghosh, S. (2007) Copper(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of nonconjugated alkenes in room-temperature ionic liquids. Synthesis, 1247-1250. 

The [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of nonconjugated alkenes was described in Chapter 5. This strategy can be used for synthesizing macrocyclic rings by using a long linker between the two alkene moieties (Scheme 9.47). Thus, bicyclic cyclobutanes can be obtained starting from enol ethers and cinnamates by means of electron-transfer sensitizers, such as DCN or DCA [80], and triplet photosensitizers such as benzo-phenone (BP) [81]. 

Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of alkenes is an important method of formation of compounds containing four-membered rings.184 Direct irradiation of simple nonconjugated dienes leads to cyclobutanes.185 Strain makes the reaction unfavorable for 1,4-dienes but when the alkene units are separated by at least two carbon atoms cycloaddition becomes possible. 

It is now well established that Cu(l)-catalyzed [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of alkenes requires formation of a complex in which one copper is coordinatively linked with two alkene units. Among the various copper salts (CuCl, CuBr, CuOTf) used, the triflate anion in CuOTf has exceptional weak coordinating ability compared to halide ions, which compete with alkene for coordination with copper. Thus, CuOTf exhibits a strong tendency to form 1 2 Cu-alkene complexes compared to CuCl or CuBr. This is reflected in improved yields of adducts obtained with CuOTf rather than CuCl or CuBr (vide infra). In addition, CuOTf is soluble in most organic solvents and is stable under the photochemical reaction conditions. Hence, CuOTf is the catalyst of choice for [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition between two nonconjugated alkenes. 

---