Ring-Splitting of 2,2-Diarylthiethane by Electron-Transfer Photosensitization of 9,10-Dicyanoanthracene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.65.1472

A 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA)-photosensitized reaction of 3-cyano- or 3-ethoxy-2,2-diarylthietane in acetonitrile gave selectively 2-cyano- or 2-ethoxy-1,1-diarylethene.The ring-splitting reaction proceeds via a one-electron oxidation of the sulfur atom of thietane ring by a photochemical electron transfer to the excited singlet state of DCA.