Photochemical reactions of allylphenoxide anions

Photochemical behaviour of sodium allylphenoxides 1a–3a was compared with that of corresponding neutral allylphenols 1b–3b, and a striking difference was found in reactivity as well as in course of the reaction. Remarkably higher photoreactivity of allylphenoxide anions, especially that of o-allylphenoxide 1a, is ascribed to the efficiency of electron transfer. The characteristic reaction products derived only from the anions were as follows: (a) intramolecular cyclization products, indanols 9, from 2a, (b) rearranged reduction products 10 from both 2a and 3a, and (c) degradative methanol-adduct 11 from 3a. Methanol-adducts 7 and photo-reduction products 6 were formed in either case. In addition cyclization products with the participation of O atom, 4 and 5, were obtained from 1a and 1b. Occurrence of the di-π-methane rearrangement was restricted to the reaction of neutral species 1b–3b. A mechanism based on electron transfer in the excited state is suggested for the course of the photoreaction.