Photochemical transformations—I : Reactions of some terpene iodides

Photo-irradiation of longibornyl iodide in n-heptane containing some triethylamine as scavenger for hydrogen iodide, furnished rearranged hydrocarbons (longifolene, longicyclene and longiborn-8-ene). Citronellyl iodide, under similar conditions, led to simple elimination (to furnish 2,6-dimethylocta-2,7-diene) and π-participation (to yield trans-p-menth-8-ene) to almost equal extent. A possible mechanism for these reactions is discussed.