Mechanism of photodimerization reaction of 10-methylacridone in polar and non-polar solvents

Abstract

The photodimerization reaction of 10-methylacridone (1) in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline (2) was investigated both in deaerated benzene and acetonitrile solutions by a continuous light irradiation (λ > 350 nm) method and a flash photolysis. The photoreaction proceeds via the triplet state of 1(³1*) and results in electron transfer followed by proton transfer from 2 to 1 to give the dimer. 9,9′-dihydroxy-10,10′-dimethyl-9,9′-biacridan (3).