Room temperature chromium(0)-catalyzed higher-order cycloaddition reactions

Room temperature thermal and photochemical chromium(0)-catalyzed higher-order cycloaddition processes are described. A novel photoactivated reaction employing a substoichiometric amount of a chromium(0) pre-catalyst has also been demonstrated in a multi-component [6π+2π+2π] cycloaddition. These chromium-mediated cycloaddition reactions can also be conducted in aqueous media.