Solvent-Mediated Synthesis of Cyclobutane Isomers in a Photoactive Cadmium(II) Porous Coordination Polymer

Photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition of 1,4-bis[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl] benzene, carried out in a Cd-II porous coordination polymer (PCP), produces different isomeric products depending on the guest solvent present in the PCP during irradiation. The nature of the included guest influences the conformation of the ligand, and thus the outcome of the cycloaddition reaction. We demonstrate controlled production of the two isomers from the same PCP by simple exchange of solvent.