Mechanistic pathways in phosphate ester photochemistry

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(91)85027-3

Initial bond breaking processes (homolysis vs heterolysis) of phosphate ester photosolvolysis were probed by chemically trapping the reactive intermediates with a tethered 5-hexenyl group. The resulting mechanistic picture is a blend of homolytic and heterolytic pathways, where the heterolytic cleavage is dominant.