Photolysis of aryloxyacetones
Abstract
On irradiation in methanol, aryloxyacetones gave 2-methylbenzofurans and the phenol formed by fission of the ArO–CH2 bond. meta-Substituted aryloxyacetones also formed dimethyl acetals by a photoreaction. Chloro-,bromo-, and nitro-substituents retarded or prevented the photoreaction. When p-methoxyphenoxyacetone was irradiated, the intermediate leading to a benzofuran was isolated and shown to be the product of ortho-rearrangement.