Organized photocycloaddition of 4-benzoylbenzoate with unsaturated carboxylates in hydrotalcite clay interlayers

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1996.781

Photoirradiation of a mixture of 4-benzoylbenzoate (1) and 4-(2-phenylethenyl)benzoate yielded regioselective oxetanes in the presence of hydrotalcite clay. Similar irradiation of a mixture of 1 and cinnamate gave rise to β-truxinate, but not oxetane. The unexpected formation of oxetanes is understood by the favorable distance between C=O and C=C bonds packed in clay interlayers.