The interplay between hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions in the crystal packing of N1-thyminyl derivatives, and implications for the photo-chemical [2π + 2π]-cycloaddition of thyminyl compounds†
Abstract
The solid-state photo-chemical dimerisation of thyminyl derivatives occurs when two thyminyl units are aligned in such a way that the olefinic moieties are separated by a distance of less than 4.2 Å. When irradiated with >270 nm UV, the thyminyl olefinic groups undergo [2π + 2π]-cycloaddition to form a dimeric cyclobutane derivative. However, the design and execution of [2π + 2π]-cycloaddition reactions can be challenging due to the requirement to produce molecular crystals with the necessary olefinic alignment. In this investigation, the crystallographic and solid-state photo-chemical reactions of six N1-thyminyl derivatives are studied. Only one derivative,