Visible-Light-Mediated Tandem Heck-Type Arylation/[4+2] Electrocyclization Process to Access 9,10-Dihydronaphthalene

Abstract Given their biological and synthetic importance, the construction of 9,10-dihydronaphthalene scaffolds is a pivotal transformation in organic synthesis, serving as a gateway to various bioactive natural products and functional materials. Herein, we develop a visible-light-driven, EDA-mediated Heck-type arylation/[4+2] electrocyclization tandem process, enabling the facile assembly of 9,10-dihydronaphthalene compounds by starting from readily available feedstock chemicals. A range of cinnamate and iodobenzene compounds showed good compatibility with this reaction system. The rationally designed reaction sequence exemplifies a telescoped route for the rapid construction of a multicyclic system with high reaction efficiency.