Photochemische Reaktionen. 110. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie γ,δ-Methano-α-enone

Photochemistry of γ,δ-Methano-α-enones Direct excitation (λ = 254 or ≥ 347 nm) converts the γ,δ-methano-α-enone (E)- 10 into the isomeric ether 23 and the isomeric diene-ketone 24 . Furthermore, on ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) (E)- 10 undergoes an 1,3-homosigmatropic rearrangement yielding the enone (E)- 25 . In addition (E → Z)-isomerization of (E)- 10 and conversion of 10 to the isomeric furan 28 is observed. The isomerization (E)- 10 → 23 , 24 and (E)- 25 proceeds by photocleavage of the C(γ), C(δ)-bond, whereas the formation of 28 occurs by photocleavage the C(γ), C(δ)-bond together with that of the C(γ), C(δ′)-bond of 10 . On direct excitation the bicyclic diene-ether 23 yields the methano-enone 10 , the dieneketone 24 and the tricyclic ether 29 . Evidence is given, that the conversion 23 → 10 is a singulet process. On the other hand, the isomerization 23 → 24 and the intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition 23 → 29 are shown to be triplet reactions. Irradiation (λ = 254 nm) of the homoconjugated ketone 24 yields the isomeric ketone 27 by an 1,3-acyl shift. The excitation of the (E)-enone 25 induces (E → Z)-isomerization and photoenolization to give the homoconjugated ketone 26 .     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 118. Mitteilung [1] Zur vinylogen β-Spaltung von Enonen. UV.-Bestrahlung von 4-(3',7',7'-Trimethyl-2'-oxabicyclo [3.2.0]hept-3'-en-1'-yl)but-3-en-2-on

Vinylogous β-Cleavage of Enones: UV.-irradiation of 4-(3′,7′,7′-trimethyl-2′-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3′-ene-1′-yl)but-3-ene-2-on On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) in acetonitrile (E/Z)- 2 is converted into the isomers 4–9 and undergoes fragmentation yielding 10 ; in methanol (E/Z)- 2 gives 7–10 and is transformed into 11 by incorporation of the solvent. On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ λ?347 nm; benzene-d₆) (E)- 2 is isomerized into (Z)- 2 , which is converted into the isomers 3 and 4 by further irradiation. ¹π,π*-Excitation (λ = 254 nm; acetonitrile) of 4 gives 6 and (E)- 9 , whereas UV.-irradiation (λ = 254 nm; acetonitrile-d₃) of 5 yields (E)- 7 and 8 . On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm; acetonitrile) of (E/Z)- 12 the compounds (E)- 14 and (E)- 15 are obtained.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 113. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photospaltung konjugierter γ, δ-Epoxyenone: UV.-Bestrahlung von 5, 6-Epoxy-3,4-didehydro-5,6-dihydro-β-jonon

The Photoinduced Cleavage of Conjugated γ, δ-Epoxyenones: UV.-Irradiation of 5,6-Epoxy-3, 4-didehydro-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone On ¹n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm) in pentane or CClF₂CFCl₂ (E)- 1 is isomerized to the dihydrofurane (E/Z)- 2 as well to the ethers 3 and 5. Besides these products the isomeric cyclopropane derivative (E)- 4 and the acetal 6 are obtained in methanol. The detection of 6 indicates the formation of an intermediate ketoniumylide a which may give 6 by addition of methanol. ? On ¹π, π*-excitation (λ=254 nm) in acetonitrile-d₃, CClF₂CFCl₂ or pentane (E)- 1 yields almost exclusively (E)- 2. In methanol 6 is obtained in addition to (E/Z)- 2 , but no (E)- 4 and 5 is formed.     

Photochemical Reactions 150th Communication. Wavelength Dependence of the Photochemistry of 7-Methyl-β-ionone

The wavelength dependence of the photolysis of 7-methyl-β-ionone ((E)- 1 ) was investigated. Irradiation of (E)- 1 with light of λ > 347 nm leads primarily to (E/Z)-isomerization followed by transformation to the tricyclic enol ether 3 as the only secondary photoproduct. On photolysis of (E)- 1 with light of shorter wavelength (λ > 280 nm or λ = 254 nm), however, a series of other products was formed (via a) photocyclization of the dienone chromophore (→ 5 ), (b) photo-enolization (→ 8 ), and (c) a 1,5-sigmatropic H-shift (→ (E/Z)- 7 ). For the structure elucidation of the new products, 7-[¹³C]methyl-β-ionone ((E)-[7-methyl-¹³C]- 1 ) was prepared and irradiated furnishing the corresponding ¹³C-labelled photoproducts.     

Photochemical reactions. 134th Communication. Photochemistry of 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-3,4-methano-β-ionone: Influence of a cyclopropane ring on the reactivity of an ylide intermediate

On ¹n,π*-excitation(λ > 347 nm), the diastereomeric methanoepoxyenones (E)- 6 undergo isomerization via C,O-cleavage of the oxirane leading to diastereomeric photoproducts ((E)- 5 →(E/Z)- 13 and 14 ; (E)- 6 →(E/Z)- 16 and 17 ). On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) of either (E)- 5 ) or (E- 6 the photoproducts 9, 10 and 11 are formed. By laser flash photolysis (λ = 265 nm) the ylide intermediate 3 was detected, with a lifetime of 10 μs in MeCN at ambient temperature. Stern-Volmer analysis of the ylide quenching by MeOH disclosed that compounds 9 and 10 , but not 11 , arise from the ylide intermediate e .     

Photochemische Reaktionen 115. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie konjugierter γ,δ-Epoxyenone: Der Einfluss eines Hydroxylsubstituenten in ϵ-Stellung

Photochemistry of Conjugated γ,δ-Epoxyenones: The Influence of a Hydroxy Substituent in ?-Position On ¹n, π*- or ¹π,π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 or λ=254 nm), the ?-hydroxy-γ;,δ-epoxyenone 8 undergoes fission of the C(γ)? O bond followed by the cleavage of the C(δ)-C(?) bond. This hitherto unknown sequence of reactions is evidenced by the structure determination of the new type products 10–17 and 25 , including a synthetic proof for 12 and the X-ray analysis of 11 (X-ray data: triclinic P1; a=7,386(2), b=8,904(4), c=9,684(5)Å; α=82,29(4)°, β=74,46(3)°, γ=82,29(3)°; Z=2). The selective ¹π,π*-excitation also induces competitive C(γ)-C(δ) bond cleavage to yield the bicyclic acetal 18 and a ketonium-ylide intermediate a , which photochemically forms a carbene b giving the allene 19 and the cyclopropene 20 . On ¹n,π*-excitation of the acetate 9 the initial C(γ)-O bond fission is, in contrast to the behaviour of the corresponding alcohol 8 , followed by a 1,2-methyl shift affording (E/Z)- 28 or by a cyclization-autoxidation process yielding the lactone 29 .     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 103. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie konjugierter Epoxy-en-carbonylverbindungen der Jonon-Reihe: UV.-Bestrahlung α,β-ungesättigter ε-Oxo-γ, δ-epoxy-carbonylverbindungen und Untersuchung des Mechanismus der Epoxy-enon/Furan-Isomerisierung

The Photochemistry of Conjugated γ,δ-Epoxy-ene-carbonyl Compounds of the Ionone Series: UV.-Irradiation of α,β-Unsaturated ε-Oxo-γ,δ-epoxy Compounds and Investigation of the Mechanism of the Isomerization of Epoxy-enones to Furanes On ¹n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm; pentane) of the enonechromophore of 3 , three different reactions are induced: (E/Z)-isomerization to give 13 (7%), isomerization by cleavage of the C(γ)–C(δ) bond to yield the bicyclic ether 14 (36%) and isomerization by cleavage of the C(γ)? O bond to give the cyclopentanones 15 (13%) and 16 (11%; s. Scheme 2). On ¹π, π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm; acetonitrile) 13 (14%), 15 (6%), and 16 (6%) are formed, but no 14 is detected. In contrast, isomerization by cleavage of the C(δ)? O bond to give the cyclopentanone 17 (23%) is observed. The reaction 3 → 17 appears to be the consequence of an energy transfer from the excited enone chromophore to the cyclohexanone chromophore, which then undergoes β-cleavage. Irradiation of 4 with light of λ = 254 nm (pentane) yields the analogous products 20 (18%), 21 (9%), 22 (7%), and 24 (7%; s. Scheme 2). Selective ¹n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 280 nm) of the cyclohexanone chromophore of 4 induces isomerization by cleavage of the C(δ)? O bond to give the cyclopentanones 23 (9%) and 24 (44%). Triplet-sensitization of 4 by excited acetophenone induces (E/Z)-isomerization to provide 20 (12%) and isomerization by cleavage of the C(δ)? O bond to yield 21 (26%) and 22 (20%), but no isomerization via cleavage of the C(δ)? O bond. It has been shown, that the presence of the ε;-keto group facilitates C(γ)? C(δ) bond cleavage to give a bicyclic ether 14 , but hinders the epoxy-en-carbonyl compounds 3 and 4 from undergoing cycloeliminations. The activation parameters of the valence isomerization 13 → 18 , a thermal process, have been determined in polar and non-polar solvents by analysing the ¹H-NMR. signal intensities. The rearrangement proceeds faster in polar solvents, where the entropy of activation is about ?20 e.u. Opening of the epoxide ring and formation fo the furan ring are probably concerted.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 111. Mitteilung [1] Zur Photochemie α, β-ungesättigter γ, δ-Epoxyester I: Singulett- versus Triplettreaktivität

On triplet excitation (E)- 2 isomerizes to (Z)- 2 and reacts by cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond to isomeric δ-ketoester compounds ( 3 and 4 ) and 2,5-dihydrofuran compounds ( 5 and 19 , s. Scheme 1). - On singulet excitation (E)- 2 gives mainly isomers formed by cleavage of the C(γ), C(δ)-bond ( 6–14 , s. Scheme 1). However, the products 3–5 of the triplet induced cleavage of the C(γ), O-bond are obtained in small amounts, too. The conversion of (E)- 2 to an intermediate ketonium-ylide b (s. Scheme 5) is proven by the isolation of its cyclization product 13 and of the acetals 16 and 17 , the products of solvent addition to b . - Excitation (λ = 254 nm) of the enol ether (E/Z)- 6 yields the isomeric α, β-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 8 and 9 , which undergo photodeconjugation to give the isomeric γ, δ-unsaturated ε-ketoesters (E/Z)- 10 . - On treatment with BF₃O(C₂H₅)₂ (E)- 2 isomerizes by cleavage of the C(δ), O-bond to the γ-ketoester (E)- 20 (s. Scheme 2). Conversion of (Z)- 2 with FeCl₃ gives the isomeric furan compound 21 exclusively.     

Photochemical reactions. 141st communication. Photochemistry of α,β-unsaturated δ,ϵ-epoxyketones of the ionone series

On n,π*- as well as on π,π*-excitation, the 4,5-epoxy-α-ionones (E)- 1 , (E)- 2 , and (E)- 3 undergo (E)/(Z)-isomerization and subsequent γ-H-abstraction leading to the corresponding 4-hydroxy-β-ionones (E/Z)- 9 , (E/Z)- 13 , and (E/Z)- 17 as primary photoproducts. On photolysis of (E)- 3 , as an additional primary photoproduct, the β,γ-unsaturated σ,?-epoxy ketone 18 was obtained. The other isolated compounds, namely the 2H-pyrans 10A + B and 14A + B as well as the retro γ-ionones 11 and 15A + B , represent known types of products, which are derived from the 4-hydroxy-β-ionones (E/Z)- 9 and (E/Z)- 13 , respectively.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 90. Mitteilung. Die UV.-Bestrahlung von (E)-5-Isopropyl-6-methyl-5,6-epoxy-hept-3-en-2-on

Photolysis of (E)-5-Isopropyl-6-methyl-5,6-epoxy-hept-3-en-2-on. This paper continues the series of investigations of the photochemistry of α, β-unsaturated γ, δ-epoxy-ketones, by examinating the photochemical behaviour of the aliphatic vinylogous epoxy-ketone 1 , the chromophore of which is structurally similar to that of γ, δ-epoxy-(E),β-ionone ( 44 ). On π, π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) 1 isomerizes mainly to the enol-ether 2 and gives as minor products the isomeric dihydrofurane 3 , the 1,5-diketones 4 and 5 and the 1,3-diketone 6 . To a smaller extent, 1 also undergoes photofragmentation to the furane 7 , the allenyl-ketone 8 and the cyclopropenyl-ketone 9 . On n,π*-excitation (λ ≥ = 347 nm) 1 yields the photoisomers 3 , 4 , 5 and in traces the hydroxyallenyl-ketone 14 , but no fragmentation products. It is shown that on irradiation at λ ≥ = 254 nm the 1,5-diketone 4 isomerizes to 5 , 6 and 15 and photodecarbonylates to the β, γ-unsaturated ketone 16 . The isomers 3 , 4 and 5 , obtained both from n, π*- and π,π*-excitation, represent products of cleavage of the C(γ)? O-bond in 1 . The enolether 2 , on the other hand, formed only by π,π*-excitation, results from cleavage of the C(γ)? C(δ)-bond. Finally, the fragmentation products 7 , 8 and 9 , which could be detected only on π,π*-excitation, may arise from a common intermediate g ? h .     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 88. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie des Iso-methyl-β,(E)-jonon-epoxids

Photolysis of iso-methyl-β,(E)-ionone-epoxide On n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm) the title compound 7 isomerizes to the (Z)-enone-epoxide 8 , which yields the bicyclic alkohol 9 in a second photochemical step. The photoisomerization 8 → 9 is a further example for the influence of a methyl substituent at C(α) of an enone-chromophore on the nature of the photochemical processes. On UV. irradiation in the presence of traces of hydrochloric acid 7 gives quantitatively the furane 10 .     

Photochemical reactions. 148th communication. Photochemistry of acylsilanes: Preparation,photolyses, and thermolyses of α,β-unsaturated silyl ketones

The syntheses, photolyses, and thermolyses of the α,β-unsaturated silyl ketones (E/Z)-7, (E)- 8 , and (E)- 9 are described. On n,π*-excitation (λ > 347 mm), the aforementioned compounds undergo (E/Z)-isomerization followed by γ-H abstraction. The intermediate enols are trapped intermolecularly by siloxycarbenes leading to the dimeric acetals 27A + B, 30A + B , and 31A + B . In addition, the acylsilanes (E/Z)- 7 undergo photoisomerization by δ-H abstraction furnishing the acylsilanes 29A + B . Flash vacuum thermolyses (FVT) of (E/Z)- 7 , (E/Z)- 8 , and (E)- 9 give rise to intramolecular reactions of the siloxycarbene intermediates. Thus, FVT (520°) of (E)- and (Z)- 7 selectively leads to the enol silyl ethers 32 and (E)- 33 , respectively, arising from carbene insertion into an allylic C–-H bond. FVT of (E/Z)- 8 (560°) and (E)- 9 (600°) affords the trienol silyl ethers 34A + B and the cyclic silyl ethers 37A + B , respectively, which are formed by CH insertion of the siloxycarbenes. As further products of (E)- 8 and (E)- 9 , the bicyclic enol ethers 35 and 36 are formed, presumably via siloxycarbene addition to the cyclohexene C?C bond.     

Photochemical reactions. 137th communication. Preparation and photolysis of (E/Z)-7-methyl-β-ionone

The title compounds (E/Z)- 7 were prepared in 66% overall yield by reaction of β-ionone ((E)-( 1 ) with lithium dimethylcuprate, trapping of the intermediate enolate with benzeneselenenyl bromide and oxidation with H₂O₂. Analogously, (E/Z)-7-methyl-α-inone ((E/Z)- 12 ) was obtained in 65% yield from α-ionone ((E)- 11 ). ¹n, π^*- Excitation (λ > 347 nm, pentane) of (E)-7 causes rapid (E/Z)-isomerization and subsequent reaction of (Z)- 7 to 15 (66%). The formation of 15 is explained by twisting of the dienone chromophore due to repulsive interaction of the 7-CH₃-group with the CH₃-groups of the cyclohexene ring. On the other hand, irradiation λ > 347 nm, Et₂O) of (E)- 7 in the presence of acid leads to (Z)- 7 (5%) and to the novel compound 16 (88%).     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 109. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie konjugierter δ-Keto-enone und β,γ,δ,ϵ-ungesättigter Ketone

Photochemistry of Conjugated δ-Keto-enones and β,γ,δ,?-Unsaturated Ketones On ¹π,π*-excitation the δ-keto-enones 5–8 are isomerized to compounds B ( 18 , 22 , 26 , 28 ) via 1,3-acyl shift and to compounds C ( 19 , 23 , 27 , 29 ) via 1,2-acyl shift, whereas the β,γ,δ,?-unsaturated ketone 9 gives the isomers 32 and 33 by 1,2-and 1,5-acyl shift, respectively. Furthermore, isomerization of 6 to 24 , dimerization of 8 to 30 and addition of methanol to 8 ( 8 → 31 ) is observed. Unlike 7 and 8 the acyclic ketones 5 , 6 and 9 undergo photodecarbonylation on ¹π,π*-excitation ( 5 → 20 , 21 ; 6 → 20 , 25 ; (E)- 9 → 35–38 ). Evidence is given, that the conversion to B as well as the photodecarbonylation of 5,6 and 9 arise from an excited singulet state, but the conversion to C as well as the dimerization of 8 from the T₁-state.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 94. Mitteilung. Vinyloge β-Spaltung bei Epoxy-enonen der Jonon-Reihe

Photoinduced Vinylogous β-Cleavage of Epoxy-enones of the Ionone Series The photochemistry of the α,β-unsaturated γ,δ-epoxy-enones 1–3 is determined by: (i) C(γ)-O-scission of the epoxide (vinylogous β-cleavage of Type A); (ii) C(γ)-C(δ)-cleavage of the oxirane (vinylogous β-cleavage of Type B); (iii) (E/Z)-isomerization of the enone chromophore. In contrast, 4 with tertiary C(β) shows no Type B cleavage. Type A cleavage is induced both by n,π*- and π,π*-excitation and arises probably from the T₁-state, but Type B cleavage is observed only on π,π*-excitation and represents presumably a S₂-reaction. On Type A cleavage 1–4 undergo 1,2-alkyl-shifts to 1,5-dicarbonyl compounds ( 15–18, 25–28, 34 and 35 ) or rearrange to dihydrofuranes ( 7 and 30 ). The isomerization 1→7 proceeds by a stereoselective [1,3]-sigmatropic shift. On Type B cleavage 1–3 isomerize to a bicyclic enol-ether ( 8, 29 ) or to a monocyclic enol-ether ( 9 ; product of a homosigmatropic [1,5]-shift) or undergo fragmentation to isomers such as allenes 10, 22 and 31 or cyclopropenes 11 and 21 . The non-isolated, unstable (Z)-epoxy-enones 14, 19, 24 and 38 isomerize by fragmentation to the furanes 12, 23, 33 and 39 respectively, on contact with traces of acid or by heating. However, for 19 and 4 , Type B cleavage may lead to the furanes 23 and 39 . On UV. irradiation of the epoxy-enone 4 the initially formed (E/Z)-isomers 34 and 35 yield on π,π*-excitation the enones 37 and 40 by a vinylogous β-fragmentation. In addition, on n,π*-excitation 34 isomerizes to 35 , which decarbonylates exclusively to the enone 37 . The reactions of 1–4 with BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ were also studied (see appendix). The epoxy-enones 1 and 2 isomerize by an 1,2-alkyl shift in good yield to the 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds 79 and 81 , whereas 3 gives the 1,4-diketone 83 , and in small amounts the 1,5-diketone 84 . On the other hand, 4 is converted to the fluorohydroxy-enone 85 and to the 1,5-dicarbonyl product 34 , the only isomer in this series which is identical with one of the photoproducts.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 97 Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie konjugierter Epoxy-diene II. Versuche mit (E)-β-Jonyliden-epoxiden

Photolysis of Conjugated Epoxy-dienes Direct and sensitized excitation of the (E)-β-ionylidene-epoxides 1 and 4 leads to different types of isomerizations. Thus photocycloelimination to the cyclopropene-ketones 2 and 6 is only achieved by ¹(π, π*)-excitation (λ=254 nm), whereas ³(π, π*)-excitation (λ > 280 nm, acetone) gives selective C(1′), O-cleavage of the oxirane ( 1 → 7 – 10 and 4 → 11 – 13 ). In contrast to 1 the twofold methylsubstituted epoxy-diene 4 shows mainly (E/Z)-isomerization ( 4 → 5 ) on both ¹(π, π*)- and ³(π, π*)-excitation while the isomerizations 4 → 6 and 4 → 11 – 13 are minor processes, only.     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 85. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie von α, β-Epoxy-eucarvon

Photochemistry of α,β-epoxy-eucarvone . On π,π^*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) 4 isomerizes to the bicyclic ketoaldehyde 5 ; on n,π^*-excitation (λ ? 280 nm) 4 gives 5 , the β,γ-unsaturated ketone 6 , the enone 7 and the cyclobutanone 8 . Scission of the (C—C)-bond of the oxirane 4 would give the dihydrofurane e , which could isomerize to the ketoaldehyde 5 . On the other hand, 4 is assumed to isomerize to the β,γ-unsaturated aldehyde c , which could yield 6 and 7 by photodecarbonylation. The cyclo-butanone 8 is shown to be a photoisomer of the ketone 6 . Furthermore, eucarvol ( 18 ) rearranges by a thermal [1,5]-H-shift to dihydro-eucarvone ( 20 ); on UV.-irradiation 18 gives the bicyclic isomers 27 and 28 .     

Photochemische Reaktionen. 104. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photospaltung der C,C-Oxiranbindung konjugierter γ, δ-Epoxy-enone: Photolyse von 4-Methyliden-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-jonon

The photoinduced cleavage of the C,C-oxirane bond of γ, δ-epoxy-enones: UV.-irradiation of 4-methylidene-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone On ¹n, π*-excitation (λ ≥ 347 nm, pentane) 5 gives the isomeric bicyclic ether 10 in 75% yield (s. Scheme 2). In methanol the photoconversion of 5 to 10 is strongly reduced (12%) in favour of the formation of the methanol adduct 11 (43%). On photolysis in aqueous acetonitrile 5 is converted to the bicyclic ether 10 (9%), the dihydrofurane 12 (18%) as well as to the triketones 13A and 13B (7%), and 14 (23%). On ¹π, π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) in pentane no 10 is formed, but 5 isomerizes to the tricyclic cyclopropyl compound 16 (59%), the allenic product 17 (10%), and the cyclopropene compound 18 (12%; s. Scheme 3). Photolysis in methanol furnishes 11 (63%), and 18 (4%), but no tricyclic cyclopropyl compound 16 . In a secondary photoreaction (λ = 254 nm) the dihydrofurane 12 is isomerized to the bicyclic cyclopropyl compound 20 . Evidence is given that the products 11 and 13 are formed by solvent addition to an intermediate ketonium ylide b (s. Scheme 12). The presence of b is further proven by the formation of 12 , a product of an electrocyclization of b . On photofragmentation of b carbenoids d and e are presumably formed (s. Scheme 14). 1,2-Hydrogen shift in d yields the allene derivative 17 , and cyclization of d gives the cyclopropene compound 18 . On the other hand, e cyclizes to the non isolated cyclopropene compound 69 which is transformed to 16 by an intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition. The present investigation shows that the photochemistry of 5 is determined by photoinduced C,C-bond cleavage of the oxirane ring. This is in sharp contrast to the photochemistry of conjugated γ, δ-epoxy-enones without the additional double bond in ε, ζ-position, where selective photocleavage of the C(λ), O-bond is observed.     

Photochemische Reaktionen 114. Mitteilung [1]. Zur Photochemie cyclischer Acetale vom 1,3-Dioxa-4,6-cycloheptadien-Typus

Photochemistry of Cyclic Acetals of the 1,3-Dioxa-4,6-cycloheptadiene Type UV.-irradiation (λ=254 nm) of 3 gives the isomers (E)- 5 (4%), (Z)- 5 (60%) and 6 (3%). On triplet sensitization (acetone; λ ≥ 280 nm) 3 is converted to (E)- 5 (3%), (Z)- 5 (7%) and 7 (9%). ? The ¹π,π*-excitation (λ=254 nm) of 4 yields the isomers 2 (9%), 8 (10%), 9 (34%), 10 (20%) and 11 (3%). On thermolysis (200°) 4 gives 10 (87%) by a Claisen-rearrangement.     

Photochemical reactions, 136th communication. Photochemistry of conjugated epoxyenones and dienes of the ionone series: Influence of a neighboring spiro-oxirane function

The preparation and photolyses of the diepoxyenones (E)- 8 and (E)- 9 as well as the diepoxydiene (E)- 10 are described. On ¹π,π^*-excitation (λ = 254 nm), the diastereoisomeric diepoxyenones (E)- 8 and (E)- 9 undergo isomerization via the ylide intermediate f and the carbene intermediate g leading to the primary photoproducts 17A and 18–21 (Scheme 8). On ¹n, π^*-excitation (λ > 347 nm), (E)- 8 shows behaviour typical of epoxyenones undergoing C(γ), O-bond cleavage of the oxirane and isomerization to compounds 22 , (E/Z)- 23 and (E)- 24 (Scheme 10). On singlet excitation, the diepoxydiene (E)- 10 , is cleaved to the carbonyl ylide j and the carbenes 1 and m (Scheme 11). The carbonyl ylide j fragments via the dipolar intermediate k to the acetylenic dienone (E)- 31 . The carbene 1 , showing behaviour typical of vinyl carbenes, furnishes the cyclopropene 30 . The alternative carbene m , however, undergoes an insertion reaction into the neighboring oxirane C,C-bond leading to the proposed but not isolated oxetene 43 , which is further transformed to the products 33A _ B by an intramolecular cycloaddition.