Two-photon chemistry of 1,8-bis(bromomethyl)naphthalene in the laser-jet: Generation of acenaphthene by intramolecular C - C bond formation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)74165-7

Argon ion laser-induced photolysis of 1,8-bis(bromomethyl)naphthalene (1) in the laser-jet with benzophenone as sensitizer gave ca. 8% (61% conversion) of acenaphthene (4) through cyclization of the intermediary non-Kekule diradical 1,8-dimethylenenaphthalene; in this two-photon process the first photon (333-nm) consumes 1, whereas the second photon (351 and 364 nm) forms 2, both steps are sensitized by benzophenone.