HELICAL STRUCTURES OF Z,Z-1,4-BIS(3,5-DI-TERT-BUTYLSTYRYL)BENZENE AND Z,Z,Z-4,4'-BIS(3,5-DI-TERT-BUTYLSTYRYL)STILBENE IN THE SOLID-STATE

The crystal structures of the two title compounds, a bis(styryl)benzene and a bis(styryl)stilbene, containing three and four benzene rings, respectively, joined by vinylene groups, show that both have open helical structures which still permit some pi-electron overlap along the conjugated chains. The pi-electron conjugation and its relevance to the photochemical behavior of the compounds is discussed.