Essentials of Pericyclic and Photochemical Reactions (Lecture Notes in Chemistry Book 93)

This book provides a concise introduction to pericyclic and photochemical reactions for organic synthesis. In the first part about pericyclic reactions, the author explains electrocyclic reactions, cycloaddition reactions, sigmatropic rearrangements, and group transfer reactions. The second part on photochemistry is dedicated to photochemical reactions of a variety of compound classes, including alkenes, dienes, and polyenes, carbonyl compounds, and aromatic compounds. Additionally, photofragmentation reactions are described in a dedicated chapter. The last chapter gives an outlook on applications of photochemistry and natural photochemical phenomena. Both parts start with a comprehensive presentation of the general principles of the pericyclic and photochemical reactions. All chapters are rich in examples, which help illustrate the explained principles and establish ties to results and trends in recent research. Additionally, each chapter offers exercises for students, and solutions to the problems are provided in a separate appendix. This book nicely illustrates the utility of pericyclic and photochemical reactions and provides students and researchers with the tools to apply them routinely for an efficient synthesis of complex organic molecules. It will therefore appeal to advanced undergraduate students, graduate and postgraduate students, and even to practitioners and scientists in the field of organic synthesis. The rich examples and exercises will also make it a versatile tool for teachers and lecturers. Front Matter....Pages i-xxv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 General Aspects of Pericyclic Reactions....Pages 3-11 Electrocyclic Reactions....Pages 13-35 Cycloaddition Reactions....Pages 37-106 Sigmatropic Rearrangements....Pages 107-160 Group Transfer Reactions....Pages 161-177 Front Matter....Pages 179-179 Principles of Photochemical Reactions....Pages 181-214 Photochemistry of Alkenes, Dienes, and Polyenes....Pages 215-239 Photochemistry of Carbonyl Compounds....Pages 241-275 Photochemistry of Aromatic Compounds....Pages 277-299 Photofragmentation Reactions....Pages 301-313 Photochemistry in Nature and Applied Photochemistry....Pages 315-331 Back Matter....Pages 333-350