Photochemistry of 1,1,3-triphenyl-2-indanone. Spontaneous and photochemical decay of ortho-xylylenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)93369-6

The photochemistry of the title compound leads to the formation of a long lived ortho-xylylene which decays by two competing cyclization pathways leading to benzocyclobutene and dihydroanthracene ring systems. The ratio of products V and VI is different for one and two-photon processes, thus providing another example where the products can be controlled by the type of photoexcitation used.