Alkene-arene meta photocycloadditions with a four-carbon-atom tether: Efficient approach toward the polycyclic ring systems of aphidicolin and stemodinone

Abstract

At the end of its tether! The fusion of a six-membered ring onto the four-carbon-atom tether of substrate 1 provides an efficient approach toward the polycyclic ring systems of the natural products aphidicolin and stemodinone. The reaction represents a unique example of a preference for product formation from an endo exciplex in an intramolecular system (exo:endo 2:3 = 1.0:1.2).