Abstract
Gel state reactions offer new direction for the reactivity of the organic molecules or metal-organic materials upon photoirradiation with shorter reaction times and high yields compared to solid and solution states. The restricted molecular movement among the molecules in the soft solids control the stereoselectivity of the photoproducts in the gel state reactions. To date, most of the strategies based on self-assembly have been demonstrated in the solid state, in particular for [2+2] reactions of olefins and polymerization reactions of diacetylenes via 1,4 addition. The soft materials are of emerging materials in recent days given their many applicative day-to-day aspects. This review gives a glimpse of recent reports on pericyclic reactions in the gel state that are designed based on the self-assembly concept. Also it highlights how such reactions accompany the physical changes in the structure of the gels and stereo controlled products with high yields.