The Photochemical Reaction of α-Diketones

Abstract
The relative photochemical reactivity of α-diketones, in particular, 9,10-phenanthraquinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone, acenaphthoquinone, benzil, 4,4′-dimethylbenzil, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzil, 2,5,2′,5′-tetramethylbenzil, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzil, 2,4,6,2′,4′,6′-hexamethylbenzil, phenylglyoxal, 2,5-dimethylphenylglyoxal, and 2,4,6-trimethylphenylglyoxal was investigated in hydrogen donating solvents. Type of the product and relative reactivity differ widely according to the structure of α-dike tones. Whereas 9,10-phenanthraquinone gives 1,4-adduct (V) in a hydrogen donating solvent (THF), 2,5,2′,5′-tetramethylbenzil gives 2-hydroxy-2-(2′,5′-dimethylphenyl)indanone (VII) via intramolecular hydrogen abstraction in nearly quantitative yield. No photochemical reaction of 2,4,6-trimethylbenzil or 2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzil could be observed in the same solvent even under a long irradiation.

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