The photoelectrocyclization of conjugated vinyl biaryls has proven to be a valuable
and efficient strategy for generating phenanthrene derivatives. Contained in this
review is an overview of the mechanism for the transformation and a discussion of
the reaction scope with a focus on the electrocyclization itself, rearomatization,
and the application of the reaction in natural product synthesis.
Key words
electrocyclization - photochemistry - cross-coupling - singlet-excited state - triplet-excited
state - aromaticity - dihydrophenanthrene - natural product synthesis