Photochemistry of Substituted 2-Benzoylcyclohexanones

Abstract
The photoreactivities of substituted 2-benzoylcyclohexanones were distinguished as three different types; 1) the exclusive Norrish Type II cleavage when there were no alkyl groups on the 2- nor on the ortho-position, 2) the benzoyl group shift from the 2- to the 4-position when an alkyl group was present on the 2- and not on the ortho-position, and 3) 1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexahydro-9(10H)-anthracenone derivative formation when an ortho-methyl group was present.