Diastereoselective solid-state crossed photocycloaddition of olefins in a 3D Zn() coordination polymer

1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene undergoes a photoinitiated [2+2] cross-cycloaddition reaction with allyl groups of allylmalonate in pores of a 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) [Zn 2 (H 2 O) 2 (Amal) 2 (bpe)] to produce a 3D MOF with a new topology. 1,2-Bis(pyrid-4-yl)ethylene (red) and 2-allylmalonate (blue) undergo a photoinitiated [2+2] crossed cycloaddition reaction in a 3D coordination polymer, accompanied with significant atomic movement and crystal decomposition.