Synthesis and coordination chemistry of a photoswitchable bis(phosphine) ligand.

A 1,2-dithienylethene compound bearing bis(phosphine) groups (1o) represents a new class of photoresponsive ligands where there are steric and electronic differences between two photogenerated isomers. The coordination chemistry of this ligand class is demonstrated by preparing a gold(I) complex (2o) and a phosphine selenide (3o).

Chiral discrimination in photochromic helicenes.

A photoresponsive dithienylethene derivative bearing chiral pinene-based arms underwent a stereoselective photoinduced cyclization reaction to produce greater than 98% of a single diastereomer. The magnitude of the optical rotation changed as much as Delta[alpha]373 = 8698 degrees upon alternate irradiation with 400 nm and greater than 434 nm light.