Photochemistry of two diphenyl β,γ-enones and a series of methyl- and phenyl-substituted α-phenyl ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/recl.19881071205

The photochemistry of the diphenyl β,γ-enones 2 and 3 and the methyl- and phenyl-substituted α-phenyl ketones 4-9 has been studied, using mainly benzene as solvent.Irradation of 2 with λ 300 nm leads to the 1,3-acyl shift (1,3-AS) product 17, relatively small amounts of the decarbonylation products 15 and 16, and the photo-oxidation products benzophenone (18) and the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 19.Direct irradation of the 1,3-AS product 17 yields 15, 16, 18 and 19, but no 2.Direct irradation of 3 with λ 350 nm leads mainly to the formation of 1,3-AS products (E)- and (Z)-22, the decarbonylation products (E)- and (Z)-20 and 21 and, in addition, a small amount of the cis-di-?-methane isomer 23.Direct irradation of the substituted α-phenyl ketones 4, 5, 8 and 9 with λ 300 nm leads predominantly to the formation of the radical coupling products 2,3-butanedione and 24-27, respectively, whereas 6 and 7 yield 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanedione and the respective 24 and 25.The acetone-sensitized irradation of 4 leads to 4-phenyl-2-butanone (33) in addition to 2,3-butanedione and 1,2-diphenylethane (24).