Synthesis and photoinitiated radical cyclization of allyl- and propynyloxymethyl substituted cyclopentanones to tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]furanols

Bicyclic cyclopentafuranols were formed by photoinitiated radical cyclization of allyl- and propinyloxymethyl substituted cyclopentanones with high regioselectivity. The irradiations were carried out at a wavelength of 300 nm in aprotic solvents such as benzene and acetonitrile. We could also show that reductive photoinduced electron transfer (PET) of the propynyloxymethyl substituted cyclopentanone 5 does not lead to any cyclization. The starting materials were synthesized in good yields following known procedures.