Photoproduct distribution spectrum of the sensitized photoreaction of 1,4-p-benzenonaphthalene

Abstract

A correlation between the type of the photoproducts of 1,4,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-1,4-p-benzeno-naphthalene (1) and triplet carbonyl and non-carbonyl sensitizers has been investigated. Electron transfer from the alkene moiety of (1) to excited sensitizers may cause the formation of naphthalene. The cage compound (2) was formed via energy transfer from excited sensitizers (E_t≥ 71 kcal/mol) to the triplet state (T₁) of (1). The irradiation of benzaldehyde and (1) gave the cage compound (2) and (2RS, 2aRS, 3SR, 9RS)-2a,3,8,8a,9,10,11,12-octahydro-3,8-p-benzeno-2H-naphth[2,3-b]oxete (3).