Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis

Abstract Photoinduced dearomatization of arenes is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis to disrupt the stable aromaticity; however, the asymmetric dearomatization photocatalysis of unactivated arenes remains highly challenging and rare. Herein we demonstrate an enzyme-mimicking cage-confined vis...

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Main Authors: Jie Yang, Zhongshu Li, Xiantao Wu, Jie Chen, Sisi Huang, Yu-Lin Lu, Zhiwei Jiao, Cheng-Yong Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59176-5
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author Jie Yang
Zhongshu Li
Xiantao Wu
Jie Chen
Sisi Huang
Yu-Lin Lu
Zhiwei Jiao
Cheng-Yong Su
author_facet Jie Yang
Zhongshu Li
Xiantao Wu
Jie Chen
Sisi Huang
Yu-Lin Lu
Zhiwei Jiao
Cheng-Yong Su
author_sort Jie Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Photoinduced dearomatization of arenes is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis to disrupt the stable aromaticity; however, the asymmetric dearomatization photocatalysis of unactivated arenes remains highly challenging and rare. Herein we demonstrate an enzyme-mimicking cage-confined visible-light asymmetric photocatalysis method for intramolecular dearomative cycloaddition with electron-deficient β-aryl enones. Owing to the multi-functional synergy of chirality, energy transfer, and host-guest interactions in the confined microenvironments, the self-assembled chiral cage-photoreactor could pre-organize the arenes and activate the β-aryl enones to give stereoselectively fused cyclobutanes through visible-light induced [2 + 2] ortho-cycloaddition. Notably, the competing transformation to stable [4 + 2] cycloadducts has been inhibited, producing thermodynamically unfavorable [2 + 2] cycloadducts with excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-4c33ea4e9535458280b673768e2019ed2025-08-20T03:52:24ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59176-5Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysisJie Yang0Zhongshu Li1Xiantao Wu2Jie Chen3Sisi Huang4Yu-Lin Lu5Zhiwei Jiao6Cheng-Yong Su7GBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityGBRCE for Functional Molecular Engineering, LIFM, IGCME, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAbstract Photoinduced dearomatization of arenes is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis to disrupt the stable aromaticity; however, the asymmetric dearomatization photocatalysis of unactivated arenes remains highly challenging and rare. Herein we demonstrate an enzyme-mimicking cage-confined visible-light asymmetric photocatalysis method for intramolecular dearomative cycloaddition with electron-deficient β-aryl enones. Owing to the multi-functional synergy of chirality, energy transfer, and host-guest interactions in the confined microenvironments, the self-assembled chiral cage-photoreactor could pre-organize the arenes and activate the β-aryl enones to give stereoselectively fused cyclobutanes through visible-light induced [2 + 2] ortho-cycloaddition. Notably, the competing transformation to stable [4 + 2] cycloadducts has been inhibited, producing thermodynamically unfavorable [2 + 2] cycloadducts with excellent regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59176-5
spellingShingle Jie Yang
Zhongshu Li
Xiantao Wu
Jie Chen
Sisi Huang
Yu-Lin Lu
Zhiwei Jiao
Cheng-Yong Su
Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
Nature Communications
title Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
title_full Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
title_fullStr Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
title_full_unstemmed Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
title_short Enantioselective dearomative ortho-cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage-confined visible-light photocatalysis
title_sort enantioselective dearomative ortho cycloaddition transformation of unactivated arenes by cage confined visible light photocatalysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59176-5
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