Synthesis of Biologically Active Compounds Using Photochemical Pericyclic Reactions

Novel Synthetic approaches to β-lactams and Corey lactone analogues via four-membered ring intermediates formed by photochemical pericyclic reaction, followed by subsequent retro-aldol-type C-C bond fission are described. The same approach to carbocyclic C-nucleosides which involves thermal 4 + 2 addition reaction in the first step is also reported. These examples demonstrate that pericyclic reactions, if combined with C-C bond fission of the carbocyclic rings thus formed, provide productive synthetic methods of biologically active substances which allow strict regio-and stereochemical control of the required functionality of the target molecules.