The diverse photocycloaddition reactions of 4-methoxybenzonitrile: novel formation of azacyclo-octatetraenes
Abstract
Azacyclo-octatetraenes are formed photochemically from addition of acrylonitrile or benzonitrile to p-methoxybenzonitrile: from the former system ortho-cycloadducts are also produced but irradiation of allyl cyanide or cis-cyclo-octene with p-methoxybenzonitrile yields para- and meta-cycloadducts respectively.