Photolysis of 1,1,1-Triarylalkane. A New Photochemical Carbene Generation Process

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00299a025

Upon UV irradiation in methanol some 1,1,1-triarylalkanes underwent an α,α-elimination of two aryl groups to give biaryls and the corresponding carbene intermediates, which inserted into the OH bond of the methanol to afford methyl ethers and/or underwent a 1,2-H shift to afford olefins.Furthermore, the efficieny of this elimination was highly dependent upon the bulkiness of the alkyl groups.