Crystallographic Snapshots of the Interplay between Reactive Guest and Host Molecules in a Porous Coordination Polymer: Stereochemical Coupling and Feedback Mechanism of Three Photoactive Centers Triggered by UV-Induced Isomerization, Dimerization, and Polymerization Reactions

We carried out photopolymerization by [2 + 2] dimerization of a photoreactive guest molecule in the channels of a photoreactive porous coordination polymer. The photoreactions of the guest and two host ligands were monitored by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, providing snapshots of the interplay between the reactive centers. By correlating the structures of these three photocenters, a strong synergism was discovered among three reaction (quasi)equilibria and three types of photochemical reactions (isomerization, dimerization, and polymerization). This result indicates a strong coupling and feedback mechanism among the photocenters moderated by the coordination backbone.