Photochemical Uncaging of Aldehydes and Ketones via Photocyclization/Fragmentation Cascades of Enyne Alcohols: An Unusual Application for a Cycloaromatization Process

We utilized a cycloaromatization reaction driven by relief of excited state antiaromaticity to photouncage aldehydes and ketones. We developed several synthetic routes towards the synthesis of photocaged carbonyls as allylically substituted 3-(2-(arylethynyl)phenyl)prop-2-en-1-ols. A library of photocaged aryl aldehydes and ketones containing donors and acceptors, as well as several photocaged fragrance aldehydes and the steroid 5α-cholestan- 3 -one, were synthesized and demonstrated photouncaging in good to excellent yields.