DIRECT PHOTOLYSIS AT 185 nm OF SIMPLE CYCLOBUTENES. MOLECULAR ELIMINATION OF ACETYLENE

Abstract
Direct photolyses at 185 nm of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene and bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene in pentane afforded acetylene and the fragment cycloalkenes as the major photoproducts, whereas the Woodward-Hoffmann allowed ring-opening giving rise to 1,3-diene was a minor process.