Enantiodifferentiating photoisomerizations of
(Z,Z)-1,3-cyclooctadiene (1ZZ) to the chiral
E,Z-isomer 1EZ
were performed at varying temperatures in the presence of some
benzenepoly-, naphthalene(di)-, and anthracenecarboxylates. Of these chiral sensitizers, (−)-menthyl
benzenehexacarboxylate afforded the highest enantiomeric
excesses (ee's) up to 10% and 18% in pentane at 25 and −40 °C,
respectively. In contrast, the use of polar solvents
greatly diminished the product's ee, suggesting intervention of a
radical ionic rather than exciplex intermediate in
these solvents. Optically pure 1EZ is shown to possess
anomalously high specific rotation and circular dichroism
as a simple diene chromophore: [α]25
D
1380° (CH2Cl2), Δε 12.8
M-1 cm-1
(λext 228 nm, cyclohexane). The
chiroptical
properties observed not only correct the previous data but also present
the conclusive evidence for the recent theoretical
predictions.