Molecular Engineering To Enhance Reactivity and Selectivity in an Ultrafast Photoclick Reaction

Light-induced 9,10-phenanthrenequinone-electron-rich alkene (PQ-ERA) photocycloadditions are an attractive new type of photoclick reaction, featuring fast conversions and high biocompatibility. However, the tunability reaction was hardly investigated up to now. To this end, we explored influence substituents on both partners rate between PQs ERAs. We identified handles for functionalization discovered that using enamines as ERAs leads drastically enhanced rates (>5400 times faster), photoreaction quantum yields (ΦP, 65 %), multicolor emission output well a fluorescence yield adducts (ΦF, 97 %). Further investigation photophysical photochemical properties provided insights design orthogonal systems in solution nanoparticle surfaces ultrafast chemoselective by reactions.