Synthesis and photochemistry of new chiral keto[3,3]cyclophanes

Abstract We have prepared racemates of two new chiral keto[3,3]paracyclophanes and one keto[3,3]metacyclophane by irradiation of the corresponding phenacyl benzoates tethered with a phenol moiety via conformational preorganization enabled by intramolecular charge transfer complex. Their structural properties have been analyzed by X‐ray crystallography. The photochemistry of the new cyclophanes has also been examined, in which the beta CO bond cleavage is the major reaction pathway.