Synthesis of pentacyclic compounds via intramolecular [3 + 2] photocycloaddition of cycloalkene linked naphthalenes.

Intramolecular photocycloaddition reactions of cycloalkene linked naphthalenes lead to formation of pentacyclic compounds in a high yielding and stereoselective manner. Intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloadducts are formed initially in photoreactions of cycloalkene linked 1-cyanonaphthalenes. The initially formed intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloadducts absorb light at wavelengths used to promote the photochemical reactions and, as a result, they undergo efficient photocycloreversion to regenerate the starting substrates. In a less efficient competing process, the cycloalkene linked 1-cyanonaphthalenes react to form [3 + 2] intramolecular photoadducts, which do not absorb incident light under the conditions used. Consequently, these photoadducts become the major products in these processes. The relative configuration of the major diastereomers of the pentacyclic products formed from photoreactions of cyclopentene linked naphthalenes ( cis - cis ) differ from those ( cis - trans ) arising from the cyclooctene linked substrates. The results of theoretical calculations, which show that steric factors govern the preferred facial mode of intramolecular addition, are in good agreement with the stereochemical course of these photoreactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]