When Dowd–Beckwith reaction meets photocatalysis

Dowd-Beckwith reaction stands as a highly efficient strategy for the construction of medium-sized carbocyclic frameworks. In recent years, the integration of photocatalysis has fundamentally advanced the Dowd-Beckwith reaction by offering a mechanistically distinct platform that effectively circumvents the intrinsic limitations of classical protocols. This review summarizes recent advances in photocatalytic Dowd-Beckwith ring-expansion reactions, categorizing existing methodologies by radical initiation mode and discussing their mechanistic features. It is hoped that this overview may offer useful insights for the diversified synthesis of medium-sized carbocycles and hopefully facilitate their further exploration in practical contexts.