Enantiodifferentiation in the Photoisomerization of (Z,Z)-1,3-Cyclooctadiene in the Cavity of γ-Cyclodextrin-Curcubit[6]uril-Wheeled [4]Rotaxanes with an Encapsulated Photosensitizer.

A biphenyl photosensitizer axle was implanted into the cavities of native and capped γ-cyclodextrins through rotaxanation using a cucubit[6]uril-templated azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, resulting in the construction of highly defined chiral binding/sensitizing sites. The orientation and interaction of the axle and capping moieties at the ground and excited states were interrogated by NMR, UV-vis, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopic studies. In situ photoisomerization of (Z,Z)-1,3-cyclooctadiene sensitized in the cavity of these [4]rotaxanes afforded (Z,E)-1,3-cyclooctadiene in up to 15.3% ee, which represents the highest level of enantiodifferentiation obtained to date for this supramolecular photochirogenesis.