Benign catalysis with iron: facile assembly of cyclobutanes and cyclohexenes via intermolecular radical cation cycloadditions

Abstract

We describe novel and facile iron-catalyzed crossed intermolecular radical cation cycloadditions of styrenes. This catalysis features high efficiency, atom economy, stereospecificity, scalability and very mild reaction conditions. Thus, these reactions represent a benign and sustainable strategy for the synthesis of valuable functionalized cyclobutanes and cyclohexenes.