The Reaction of Triplet State Benzophenone with Acetylacetone

Irradiation of benzophenone in acetic acid containing acetylacetone resulted in regiospecific addition to form cis-2,2-dihpenyl-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-acetyloxetane and the rearrangement products therefrom. In the co-presence of copper ions, the regiospecificity is scrambled to give these products and a small amount of 1,1-diphenyl-1-buten-3-one, the secondary decomposition product of the other oxetane arising from the alternative orientation of the addition.