Structures and photochemistry of 1,5-disubstituted dibenzobarrelenes

The effect of 1,5-disubstitution on the photochemistry of 9,10-ethenoanthracene-11,12-diesters has been studied and correlated with the crystal structures determined for several derivatives; photoproduct structures have been established from a crystal structure analysis of one of the products and from NMR correlations. The crystals studied are: (1)-Cl, dimethyl 1,5-dichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethenoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylate, C₂₀H₁₄Cl₂O₄, P2₁/n; (1)-CN, 1,5-dicyano derivative, C₂₂H₁₄N₂O₄, P2₁/n; (1)-CN.0.5p-xylene, C₂₂H₁₄N₂O₄.0.5C₈H₁₀, P2₁/c; (1)-CN.xxylene, C₂₂H₁₄N₂O₄.xC₈H₁₀, P2₁/n; (1)-OMe, 1,5-dimethoxy derivative, C₂₂H₂₀O₆, P; (2b)-Cl, C₂₀H₁₄C₁₂O₄, dimethyl 1,5-dichloro-4b,8b,8c,8d-tetrahydrodibenzo[a, f]cyclopropa[c,d]pentalene-8c,8d-dicarboxylate, Pna2₁. The dibenzobarrelene molecules all have geometries and dimensions similar to those of related materials. In particular, the orientations of the two ester groups in each molecule differ, one being in general almost fully conjugated with the C(11)=C(12) double bond and the other almost non-conjugated. Relationships are sought between the ratios of the two regioisomeric photoproducts and molecular and crystal structures; both electronic and steric effects are considered, but no one effect seems to dominate.

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