Enantioselective PhSe‐Group‐Transfer Tandem Radical Cyclization Reactions Catalyzed by a Chiral Lewis Acid

Abstract

A radical change: α-Phenylselenyl-β-ketoesters (e.g., 1) undergo radical cyclization in the presence of a chiral Lewis acid complex Mg(ClO4)2–3 with Et3B/O2 as the radical initiator. Monocyclic compounds, such as 2 (or bicyclic products from diene precursors), were obtained in good yields (33–82 %) with 65–97 % ee in this first enantioselective PhSe-group-transfer radical cyclization.