Stereospecific ring expansion from orthocyclophanes with central chirality to metacyclophanes with planar chirality

Carbon–carbon bonds constitute the major framework of organic molecules and carbon–hydrogen bonds are abundant in their peripheries. Such nonpolar σ-bonds are thermodynamically stable and kinetically inert in general. Nonetheless, selective activation of those ubiquitous bonds may offer a straightforward method to construct and/or functionalize organic skeletons. Herein we describe ring expansion from orthocyclophanes to metacyclophanes occurring upon sequential action of light and a metal catalyst. Formally, specific non-strained carbon–hydrogen and carbon–carbon bonds are cleaved and exchanged without elimination of any leaving groups. Notably, the product is energetically uphill from the starting material, but the endergonic photocyclization step makes it possible to drive the transformation forward. The ring expansion is extended to the stereospecific synthesis of metacyclophanes possessing planar chirality, during which central chirality on a tertiary carbon is transferred to planar chirality.