Photoinduced Spirocyclization for the Synthesis of Spirocyclic Compounds

Spirocycles represent an important class of 3D skeletons that are commonly encountered in natural products and pharmaceutical agents. Owing to their remarkable properties and fine-tuning of conformational and physicochemical characteristics, the synthesis of spirocyclic motifs has been extensively investigated over the past decade. This review provides an overview of the latest developments in visible-light-induced spirocyclization for the construction of spirocyclic compounds, with a focus on catalytic methods, substrate scope, and mechanistic aspects. In the conclusion of this review, the limitations and challenges within this field are highlighted, and potential future research directions are also explored.