Photosalient [2 + 2] photodimerization in metal chloride-templated organic crystals†

Abstract

Photo-salient metal chloride-templated organic–inorganic hybrid crystals incorporating (E)-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-yl)ethene (Ebpe) exhibited pronounced photo-salient effects, demonstrably jumping upon UV-induced [2 + 2] photodimerization. Detailed structural analysis reveals that the metal chloride component is an effective template, precisely aligning Ebpe molecules for efficient photodimerization. This work provides a rare example of a metal halide facilitating [2 + 2] photodimerization and establishes a new pathway for developing photosalient materials with tailored reactivity.