Substituent directed meta photocycloaddition of trans-1,2-dichloroethene to benzonitrile
Abstract
trans-1,2-Dicloroethene undergoes 2,4-photocycloaddition to benzonitrile to yield 4-cyano-6-exo-7-endo-diclorotricyclo [3.3.0.02,8]oct-3-ene (3) as the major product, the structure of which has been determined by X-ray crystallography; steric and radical stabilization factors of the addend substituents are considered to direct the reaction to this specific mode of meta attack.