Identification of supramolecular templates: design of solid-state photoreactivity using structural similarity

Structural similarity has been used to identify multifunctional templates for topochemically controlled solid-state photodimerisation. By examination of co-crystal structures of 4,4′-bipyridine with various acids, tricarballylic acid and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid have been identified as supramolecular templates for the alignment in the solid-state of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene. As a result, photodimerisation in the solid-state proceeds smoothly and with high yield.