From α-cedrene to crinipellin B and onward: 25 years of the alkene–arenemeta-photocycloaddition reaction in natural product synthesis

Abstract

Wender and Howbert's remarkable synthesis of α-cedrene in 1981 brought the attention of the synthetic community to the alkene–arene meta-photocycloaddition reaction. Here we review the natural product syntheses that have been achieved, over the last 25 years, utilising this strategic level reaction.