A chiral photoswitch based on enantiospecific interconversion between binaphthyl and helicenoid skeletons

Chem Commun (Camb). 2024 May 9;60(39):5149-5152. doi: 10.1039/d4cc00364k.

Abstract

A novel chiral photoswitch composed of a binaphthyl unit and a hexafluorocyclopentene ring has been synthesized. This chiral photoswitch exhibited thermally reversible photochromism between the binaphthyl and helicenoid forms based on 6π-electrocyclization. The helicity of the binaphthyl moiety was reversed upon stereospecific photocyclization and reverted back during the thermal ring opening.