Cyclodextrin-mediated regioselective photo-Fries reaction of 1-naphthyl phenyl acylates

1-Naphthyl phenyl acylates upon irradiation in solution yield eight products via β-cleavage process. However, excitation of these molecules as included in γ-cyclodextrin results in a single product (>95%). This medium dependent product selectivity is attributed to conformational and translational restrictions enforced on the reactant as well as intermediates by the cyclodextrin cavity.