Thermal and photochemical reactions of the anion radical and dianion of dibenzothiophen

Abstract

The radical anion of dibenzothiophen(DBS^–˙) produced by the contact with alkali-metal dissociates thermally at the S–C bond via second-order kinetics; the dissociated radical anion accepts an electron from other DBS^–˙ and yields the dianion. Flash photolysis of the dianion in the presence of excess of DBS yields DBS^–˙; one half of DBS^–˙ decays rapidly and the other persists for a long time. The mechanisms of formation and decay are discussed.