Photolysis of (Arylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium Salts. Substituent, Counterion, and Solvent Effects on Reaction Products

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00073a023

Quaternary (arylmethyl)phosphonium salts of the general formula ArCH2-PR3(+)Y(-) (Ar = substituted phenyl or 1-naphthyl; R = phenyl, ferrocenyl, or butyl; Y(-) = BF4(-) or halide) have been photolyzed in acetonitrile or in methanol.Photolysis involved the cleavage of the P-CH2 bond and the products derived from both, the arylmethyl radical and the carbocation, were formed.The proportion of the radical- and carbocation-derived products was determined as a function of substituents in group Ar, of groups R, counterions Y(-), and the solvent.For the nonoxidizable counterion (BF4(-), the proposed mechanism of the reaction involves initial homolysis, followed by the escape of the radical products from a solvent cage, or by the electron transfer from carbon to phosphorus, yielding the corresponding arylmethyl carbocation.The latter can either react with the solvent to form the observed carbocation-derived product or can undergo recombination with the tertiary phosphine formed to yield the starting phosphonium ion.Some indication of the "inverted substituent effect" resulting from the inhibition of single electron transfer from an easily oxidized radical was obtained.For the oxidizable counterions (halides), an additional pathway is suggested, that involves electron transfer from the anion, yielding the arylmethyl radical and the phosphine, thus decreasing the ionic/radical products ratio.