Photo-Induced Cycloaddition Reactions of α-Diketones and Transformations of the Photocycloadducts

Photocycloaddition, along with subsequent transformation of the photocycloadducts, provides expeditious ways to construct various structures. The photo-induced reactions of α-diketones have been reported to proceed via different reaction pathways with the involvement of one or two of the carbonyl groups. Photoinduced reactions of cyclic α-diketones including N-acetylisatin, phenanthrenequinone and isoquinolinetrione with different C=C containing compounds could take place via [2 + 2], [4 + 2] or [4 + 4] photocycloaddition pathways. We have investigated the photoreactions of these cyclic α-diketones with different types of alkenes and alkynes, with a focus on the unusual cascade reactions initiated by the photocycloaddition reactions of these cyclic α-diketones and the applications of these photocycloaddition reactions along with the transformation of the photocycloadducts. In this paper, we discuss the diverse photo-cycloaddition pathways found in the photocycloaddition of o-diones leading to various photocycloadducts and the potential applications of these reactions via further transformation reactions of the adducts.