Regioselective photodimerization of cinnamic acid in a micellar solution
Abstract
Irradiation of trans-cinnamic acid (1) and its methyl ester (2) in 1% aq. cetyltirmethylammonium bromide gave dimeric products in 35 and 29% yields as a mixture of truxinic and truuxillic acids in a ratio of 19 : 1 and 3.8 : 1, respectively, while in homogeneous solutions (1) gave no photodimers and (2) gave dimeric products in 2.3% yield under similar reaction conditions.