Role of pi-stacking in the 2+2 photocycloaddition

ORGN 317

Steven A. Fleming and Alexander Parent. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
Recent research in the area of organic photochemistry has increased our understanding of the regio- and stereoselectivity of [2+2] photocycloadditions which result in the formation of 4-member rings. Our work has addressed the possible reasons for the observed selectivity in aryl-substituted [2+2] cycloadditions. Results suggest that pi-pi interactions account for the selectivity. We will discuss the synthesis and photoreactivity of silyl tethered alkenes designed to answer the mechanistic questions that have been raised.