Methyl viologen as a catalytic acceptor for electron donor–acceptor photoinduced cyclization reactions

Abstract

We present a new method for [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cyclizations via a radical cation formation driven by methyl viologen mediated electron donor–acceptor complexes. This approach enables the synthesis of cyclobutane and cyclohexene derivatives using a catalytic amount of methyl viologen enabled by oxygen as the terminal oxidant.