Construction of 3,9-diazatetraasteranes and 3,9-diazatetracyclododecanes by photocycloaddition reaction of 1,4-dihydropyridines: Experimental and theoretical investigation

A photocycloaddition reaction of ethyl 1,4-diaryl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate for the construction of 3,9-diazatetraasteranes (P1) and 3,9-diazatetracyclododecanes (P2) is reported for the first time. The types of reaction product clearly differ with solvent, regardless of the irradiation wavelength. The difference in P1 and P2 lies in the second step of the intramolecular [2 + 2] photocyclization. In order to further investigate this phenomenon and gain a deeper understanding of the photochemical behavior of 1,4-dihydropyridines, DFT and TDDFT theoretical calculations are performed. The results provide a good explanation for the formation of 3,9-diazatetraasteranes and 3,9-diazatetracyclododecanes. A photocycloaddition reaction of ethyl 1,4-diaryl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylate for the construction of 3,9-diazatetraasteranes and 3,9-diazatetracyclododecanes is reported for the first time. In order to further investigate this phenomenon and gain a deeper understanding of the photochemical behavior of 1,4-dihydropyridines, DFT and TDDFT theoretical calculations were performed. The results provide a good explanation for the formation of 3,9-diazatetraasteranes and 3,9-diazatetracyclododecanes. [Display omitted]