Photooxidation of Alcohols by Ferric Ion

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00320a007

Near-UV photolysis (through Pyrex) of 0.15 M solutions of Fe(ClO4)3 in a series of primary alcohols, RCH2OH, leads to a variety of products, RCHO, CH2O, RH, RR, RCH2OR, alkenes, and tetrahydrofurans.Both the products and the variation in their distribution with structure are consistent with the initial production of alkoxy radicals from the alcohols.Photolysis rates parallel the importance of the charge-transfer band in the near UV, implying that it is involved in the primary photochemical process.