Photoisomerization of 2,2''-ethano-bridged m-terphenyl derivatives: ring constraint activates an unreactive chromophore
摘要:
The photochemistry of 2,2''-ethano-bridged m-terphenyl derivatives 4, 8, and 9 was investigated. These compounds are chiral and may be suitable photoresolvable additives to discotic liquid crystals. Unlike their unbridged analogues, 4, 8, and 9 rearrange rapidly when irradiated with UV light to the o-terphenyl compounds 10, 11, and 12, respectively. This rearrangement is likely to proceed through an intermediate benzvalene valence-bond isomer. The high reactivity of the 2,2''-ethano-bridged compounds is attributed to distortion in their lowest excited singlet states and to the relief of strain when the ortho isomers are formed.