A natural light induced regioselective 6π-electrocyclisation–oxidative aromatisation reaction: experimental and theoretical insights

Abstract

Stoichiometric intermolecular Pauson–Khand reactions of 4-(phenylethynyl)-6-methyl-2-pyrones with norbornene and dicobalt(0)octacarbonyl provide cyclopentenone products that undergo a facile 6π-electrocyclisation–oxidative aromatisation transformation in the presence of natural light and oxygen, affording functionalised benzo[h]indeno[1,2-f]isochromene type products. The results are rationalised by theoretical studies, which confirm that the electrocyclisation process is favoured at C3 in the 2-pyrone ring system. The identity and precise arrangement of the ‘trienyl’ substituents control whether the electrocyclisation occurs in natural light.