The Synthesis of Conjugated Bis-Aryl Vinyl Substrates and Their Photoelectrocyclization Reactions towards Phenanthrene Derivatives.

The photoelectrocyclization of conjugated vinyl biaryls has proven to be a valuable and efficient strategy for generating phenanthrene derivatives. Contained in this review is an overview of the mechanism for the transformation and a discussion of the reaction scope with a focus on the electrocyclization itself, rearomatization, and the application of the reaction in natural product synthesis.