Abstract: | Irradiation of 2‐alkoxy substituted benzophenones 2a–f and ethyl 2‐aroyl‐4‐methylphenyloxyacetates 2g–i in benzene and in acetonitrile underwent photocyclization to substituted dihydrobenzofuranols 3a–i with 3a–c in very less yield being racemate and 3d–i in good yield being mixture of cis‐trans isomers showing high stereoselectivity in benzene and decreased stereoselectivity in acetonitrile. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:212–217, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20111 |