Unique solvent effect on photochemistry of ortho-alkylphenacyl benzoates

✍ Scribed by Bong Ser Park; Hyuk Jun Ryu

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 234 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0040-4039
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2010.01.046

✦ Synopsis

Photolysis of 2,4,6-trialkylphenacyl benzoates gives not only the corresponding indanones and benzoic acid, but also the corresponding benzocyclobutenols (CBs), which are also detected in the photolysis of mono-alkylphenacyl benzoates for the first time. The product selectivity was heavily dependent upon solvents and o-alkyl group. H-bonding acceptor solvents strongly favor the formation of the CB. As the size of the o-alkyl group increases, the relative amount of the CB increases.