Photooxygenation of stilbenes in zeolite by excitation of their contact charge transfer complexes with oxygen

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01224-6

Contact charge transfer (CCT) complexes of trans-stilbenes with oxygen molecules were formed in zeolite NaY. Excitation of the CCT bands by a 313- nm wavelength light produced the corresponding benzatdehydes through an electron transfer reaction to generate stilbene cation radicals and superoxide anion radical. Irradiation of the CCT complexes by a 254-nm wavelength light, by contrast, gave rise to isomerization and formation of phenanthrene without yielding any oxygenation products, as in the photoreaction under oxygen in solution.