Application Note 48 – Photochemical synthesis of Cubanes

This application note demonstrates the preparation of cage compound 2 from an advanced diene precursor 1, which can be prepared from cyclopentanone. After optimization, this key photochemical [2+2] photocycloaddition was successfully scaled up to multigram scale, and the cycloadduct was transformed to 1,4-cubane dicarboxylate 3.