Recent advances in cascade radical cyclization of radical acceptors for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles

Cascade radical cyclization is an attractive synthetic method due to its high atom- and step-economy to construct carbo- and heterocycles, which have wide applications in chemical and life science industries. Radical acceptors with unsaturated bonds play a key role in realizing highly rapid, concise, and efficient cascade radical cyclization. This Review is devoted to highlighting the latest achievements in the development of cascade radical cyclization methodologies for the synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles in this rapidly growing research field. Based on the hybridization of starting materials, this Review includes C(sp)–C(sp) bond, C(sp)–C(sp2) bond, C(sp2)–C(sp2) bond, C(sp2)–C(sp3), and carbon–heteroatom bond coupling cyclization. Representative examples mainly published in last three years will be discussed for each highlighted reaction design and mechanism, providing readers with common tools for future research in cascade radical cyclization.