Controlling the regioselectivity of the di-π-methane rearrangements of 1,2-naphtho-annelated barrelene derivatives — Solution versus solid-state photochemistry

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Abstract
The synthesis of 1,2-naphtho-annelated barrelene derivatives, namely dimethyl-7,12-dihydro-7,12-ethenobenzo[a]anthracene-13,14-dicarboxylate (4a) and dimethyl-7,14-dihydro-7,14-ethenodibenzo[a,j]-anthracene-15,16-dicarboxylate (4b), and the investigation of their photoreactivity in solution and in the solid state is reported. The irradiation of 4a and 4b resulted in regioselective di-π-methane rearrangements to give semibullvalene products; however, the product distribution is inverted upon changing the reaction medium from solution to the solid state. In solution, an α-naphtho–vinyl bridging predominates as the initial photochemical step because of the selective stabilization of the corresponding transition state, as discussed on the basis of the structures of the related biradical intermediates, whereas the solid-state photoreaction is significantly influenced by the steric constraints within the crystal lattice that only allow a β-naphtho–vinyl bridging.

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