Photoinduced Cyclization Reactions in Aqueous Media

This account intends to cover recent literature on photoinduced cyclization reactions in water or aqueous media. The reactions covered do not proceed by the assistance of metals, or through electron transfer reactions mediated by metallic species or complexes. Radical cyclization of perfluoroalkyl-substituted compounds is neither the subject of this article, since these examples have been reviewed recently. Instead, photomacrocyclization and photoelectrocyclic ring closure reactions are the aims of this article, as well as the syntheses of lactones and 5-methyleneoxazolidin-4-ones, showing the scope of these reactions carried out in an environmentally-friendly media. These cyclization reactions will be shown to enable the syntheses of important synthetic targets, with relevancy in biochemistry and medicinal chemistry.