Photochemical addition of secondary alcohols to maleimides
Abstract
Under UV irradiation, propan-2-ol adds to the CC bond of maleimides 4 to give 2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)succinimides 5 in 25–70% yield. Cyclohexanol adds in the same way to give 2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)succinimides 6. Several trace by-products are identified by GC-MS analysis and their formation accounted for.