THE PHOTOLYSIS OF ALKYL ESTERS

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Abstract
An attempt has been made to determine the primary processes in the gas and liquid phase photolysis of simple alkyl esters.The liquid phase photolysis of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl formate has been briefly investigated. Besides the dissociation processes, two intramolecular rearrangements were found to occur.[Formula: see text]Process I takes place with approximately the same yield for all the formates studied. Process II occurs only when there is a β-hydrogen in the alkyl group.An investigation of the gas and liquid phase photochemical decomposition of esters other than formates showed the existence of the following primary processes:[Formula: see text]Processes VI and VII require β- and γ-hydrogens, respectively, in the Y and X alkyl groups. It was found that processes I and X occur mostly at short wavelength, while the other processes take place at long wavelengths as well.

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