Photoisomerization of Alkenes via Energy Transfer Enabled by Cu‐Acetylide Complexes

Abstract

AbstractThis work demonstrates the isomerization of alkenes enabled by copper‐acetylide complexes under blue light. This system is applicable to the E→Z isomerization of α‐ and β‐substituted cinnamate derivatives with moderate to excellent Z/E ratios. A reaction pathway involving singlet energy transfer (EnT) from the copper‐acetylide complex to the alkene is proposed.