Photochemical studies on bis-sulfide and -sulfone tethered polyenic derivativesDedicated to Jean-Pierre Desvergne.Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1535549 (4), 1535551 (5), 1535552 (6), 1535553 (6-O), 1535554 (7-OH) and 1535555 (10). For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c7ob00551b

This study focusses on the [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of a symmetric polyenic system tethered by an aryl bis-sulfide or sulfone platform. Using direct irradiation or photosensitization, no expected ladderane product was isolated. In most cases, only tricyclic products including a single cyclobutane moiety were formed. Irradiation of bis-acrylic precursors in water with encapsulation by a host (cyclodextrin or cucurbituril) provided a stereoselective access to valuable cyclobutyl adducts. This study focusses on the [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of a symmetric polyenic system tethered by an aryl bis-sulfide or sulfone platform.