Studies in the dithiocarbamate series. Part IV. Photolysis of some 4-hydroxybenzyl dithiocarbamates

Abstract

Several 4-hydroxybenzyl dithiocarbamates have been photo-irradiated under various conditions. It is postulated that the initial photochemical step involves formation of dithiocarbamoyl and benzyl radicals. The former yields a thiuram disulphide by dimerisation and the benzyl radical either dimerises to a diphenylethane or dissociates to a p-quinone methide. When the irradiations were carried out in the presence of water, aromatic ketones were also produced and evidence is presented which indicates that these probably arise via p-quinone methide intermediates.