10.1246/cl.1996.217
The research explores the photoreaction of alkyl nitrites in the solid state, with the aim of understanding how the crystalline environment influences the selectivity of reactions, leading to the formation of ketones. The study focused on the photoirradiation of steroidal and acyclic alkyl nitrites, which resulted in the selective formation of ketones, a significant outcome given that ketones are typically by-products in solution reactions. The researchers concluded that the favorable conformation of the nitroso group and the reaction cavity in the crystal played a crucial role in this selectivity. Key chemicals used in the process included alkyl nitrites derived from steroids and acyclic alcohols, which were prepared by reacting the corresponding alcohols with nitrosyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. The study also employed a 500-W super-high-pressure mercury lamp for photoirradiation and utilized X-ray crystallographic analysis to understand the influence of the initial conformation of the nitroso group on the yield of ketones.