Topochemical Reactions of Metal Complexes of Substituted Benzylidenecyclopentanones

The 2,5-dibenzylidene and 2-benzylidene cyclopentanone frameworks have been modified, the first by incorporation of OH groups on the two phenyl groups, the second by adding a malonic group at the 3-position of the five member ring, so as to act as ligands. Changes in packing, and hence reactivity, can now be achieved by changing the coordinated transition metal cation. The malonic group imparts novel modes of solid state photoreactivity.