Pericyclic Reactions Part 4: Electrocyclizations (Conrotatory/Disrotatory and Nazarov Cyclizations)

The video tutorial explores various paracyclic reactions, including 4+2 cycloadditions, sigmatropic shifts, and electrocyclizations. It discusses the stereochemical rules governing these reactions, using frontier orbital theory. The tutorial also covers 4-electron cyclizations, highlighting their challenges due to anti-aromatic character and ring strain. A detailed explanation of cascade reactions, including a double electrocyclization Diels-Alder cascade, is provided, emphasizing stereoselectivity. Finally, the Nazarov cyclization is introduced, showcasing its mechanism and synthetic utility.

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