Photolysis of Aromatic Oxime Esters. Finding of Aromatic Substitution by Diphenylmethyleneimino Radicals

Abstract
Diphenylmethyleneimino radicals, Ph2C=N·, generated from photolysis of benzophenoxime benzoates undergo aromatic substitution on benzene as well as dimerization into azine. On the other hand, phenylmethyleneimino radicals, PhCH=N·, generated from photolysis of benzaldoxime benzoate are oxidized to benzonitrile in preference to dimerization.