Through-space control of the persistence of photogenerated o-quinonoid intermediates in naphthalenes containing cofacially oriented chromenes and arenes.

Remarkable modulation of the persistence of the photogenerated colored o-quinonoid intermediates via a through-space interaction has been demonstrated in chromenes 1-4 based on 1,8-diarylnaphthalenes. Polar/π interaction is shown to stabilize the closed form of 4 to such an extent that photoinduced coloration is virtually invisible, while the same stabilization in the opened form of 2 permits ready coloration with a long-lived o-quinonoid intermediate.