Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch
Published on: February 7, 2022
Photochemical and thermal isomerization processes of a chiral auxiliary based donor-acceptor substituted chiroptical
Richard A van Delden1, Johannes H Hurenkamp, Ben L Feringa
1Department of Organic and Molecular Inorganic Chemistry, Stratingh Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
A new type of chiroptical molecular switch is presented where irradiation employing different wavelengths of light induces a reversible helix inversion of a sterically overcrowded alkene bearing a second chiral entity in the form of a stereogenic center present in a pyrrolidine unit. The additional stereogenic center in the chiral auxiliary group has a distinct influence on the switching selectivity of this system and greatly facilitates the resolution of the different diastereoisomers, which is a considerable improvement compared with previously reported systems. In addition, the pyrrolidine stereogenic center causes small energetic differences between the various states of the switch system resulting in a small but significant directional preference in the helix inversion steps.
Related Concept Videos
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Prochirality
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
