Some evidence in favour of an electron transfer mechanism in the TiO2 photosensitized oxidation of benzyl derivatives in aqueous media

Abstract

The structure and/or distribution of products from the TiO₂-sensitized photooxidation of some benzyl derivatives in aerated and/or deaerated aqueous media and in the presence of Ag₂SO₄ are reported. The results suggest that the single electron transfer process from the substrate to the photogenerated hole, previously proposed in CH₃CN, should also be operative on gradually going from aqueous CH₃CN to pure water.