Valence isomerisation between coloured acylnorbornadienes and quadricyclanes as a promising model for visible (solar)light energy conversion

Abstract

Among many coloured norbornadienes which have been synthesized bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, the 2,3-diphenyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-6-propionly derivative was found to satisfy many important requirements for the chemical conversion of solar light energy because of its visible light absorption, a high quantum yield for its photocycloaddition to the corresponding quadricyclane and a rapid and complete reversion of the quadricyclane to the norbornadiene with an acid catalyst.