Photodecarbonylation of 2-phenyl-4-alkylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00751-4

The title compounds were prepared by the Erlenmeyer synthesis and irradiated with or without a Pyrex filter using 450 W medium pressure mercury arc lamp. Cis-trans isomerization was the major reaction under pyrex filtered condition, whereas irradiation without a Pyrex filter resulted in decarbonylation, followed by trapping of the ketenimine intermediate by protic solvents.