Photochemistry of 4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one

The photolysis of the mono substituted cyclic carbonate ester 4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one has been studied. The direct irradiation results in loss of carbon dioxide with the formation of the corresponding ox-irane, styrene oxide as well as phenylacetaldehyde and bibenzyl. Photolysis in methanol produces the same compounds in addition to phenethyl alcohol and 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol. Triplet sensitized photolyses resulted in the products derived entirely from benzyl radicals with none of the oxirane being detected.