Near-Infrared Circularly Polarized Light Triggered Enantioselective Photopolymerization by Using Upconversion Nanophosphors.

Circularly polarized light (CPL) is considered to be a true chiral entity and has been suggested as an explanation for the introduction of initial chiral biases into key biomolecular building blocks. CPL used recently asymmetric photochemical reactions is of wavelengths mainly in the UV and visible regions, whereas natural CPL observed in star-forming regions of the Orion constellation falls in the IR region. Whether CPL in the IR or near-IR region could be utilized to trigger asymmetric photochemical reactions remains to be determined. Herein, it is demonstrated that enantioselective photopolymerization can be realized by using λ=980 nm CPL as the only chiral source. By incorporating NaYF