Photoinduced electron transfer reactions of α,β-epoxy ketones with 2-phenyl-N,N-dimethylbenzimidazoline (PDMBI): Significant water effect on the reaction pathway

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)01578-X

Irradiation of aroyl substituted epoxy ketones with 2-phenyl-N,N-dimethylbenzimidazoline in aqueous tetrahydrofuran or aqueous benzene produced the corresponding aldols in good to excellent yields. Changing the amount of water added significantly influenced the product distribution.