Visible light-mediated intermolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 1-aryl-2-nitroethenes and olefins.

Despite the importance of cyclobutanes there are not many direct [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions which can be performed with visible light in the absence of a catalyst. A notable exception is the reaction of 1-aryl-2-nitroethenes and olefins which can be performed at a wavelength of λ = 419 nm or λ = 424 nm in CH2Cl2 as the solvent. In the present study, a total of 15 1-aryl-2-nitroethenes were found to undergo a [2 + 2] photocycloaddition with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (28-86% yield) and a set of 12 olefins was studied in their photocycloaddition to 1-phenyl-2-nitroethene (37-88% yield). All mechanistic results are in agreement with a triplet reaction pathway and with the intermediacy of a 1,4-diradical.