The achiral 2-cyanoethyl group of cobaloxime complexes was isomerized to th
e chiral I-cyanoethyl group on exposure to a xenon lamp in the solid state.
From the crystal structures and the enantiomer or diastereomer excesses of
the seven cobaloxime complexes with different axial base ligands, it was f
ound that the chirality of the produced l-cyanoethyl group depends on the a
symmetric shape of the reaction cavity for the 2-cyanoethyl group before ir
radiation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.