Asymmetric induction with cyclodextrins: photocyclization of tropolone alkyl ethers

Abstract

Employing the photobehavior of tropolone alkyl ethers as the probe, we have established that cyclodextrins could as a serve as a medium to bring about enantioselective photoreactions. The enantioselectivity observed in this study is moderate at best. The enantioselectivity observed in the solid state in comparison to aqueous solution suggests that a rigid environment may be essential to achieve chiral induction during photoreactions of organic molecules. In this context the much higher enantioselectivity observed for the same systems within zeolites is noteworthy.