Synthesis of silacyclopent-2-en-4-ols via intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of benzoyl(allyl)silanes

Abstract

Organosilicon compounds are versatile units with a wide range of uses from medicinal chemistry to the field of organic electronics. An unprecedented method for the synthesis of novel diaryl-substituted silacyclopentenols via blue-light promoted intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of acyl silanes is herein disclosed. Additionally, the present findings demonstrate the influence of the olefin substituents in controlling the regioselectivity of the intramolecular Paternò–Büchi reaction, providing silacycles different from previously reported ones. The high degree of functionalization of these compounds makes them attractive precursors to other synthetically challenging silacyclopentanes.