Regioselective Photochemical Cycloaddition Reactions of Diolefinic Ligands in Coordination Polymers

The pure diolefinic ligand 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3‐butadiene (bpbde) is photostable in the crystalline state. With the assistance of coordination‐driven metal‐organic assemblies, the photoreactivity of this diolefinic ligand can be significantly enhanced. A hydrothermal reaction of bpbde with Cd(NO₃)₂?4 H₂O and the auxiliary ligand adipic acid resulted in the formation of a two‐dimensional photoreactive coordination polymer (CP), Cd(adipate)(bpbde)]_n ( 1 ). When the aliphatic carboxylic acid was replaced by pimelic acid, another photoreactive CP Cd(pimelate)(bpbde)]_n ( 2 ) with a three‐dimensional framework was obtained. With irradiation of 365 nm UV light, the bpbde ligands in crystalline 1 and 2 underwent a regioselective photochemical 2+2] cycloaddition reaction and converted to 3,4,7,8‐tetra(pyridin‐4‐yl)tricyclo4.2.0.0^2,5]octane (tptco) and 1,3‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐2,4‐bis(2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)vinyl)cyclobutane (bpbpvcb), respectively. The results provide an interesting insight into the rational design of highly regio‐ or stereoselective photocatalytic reactions for the formation of special organic molecules.