Photochemistry of Thiophen-2(5H)-ones

Mechanistic evidence for the light-induced ring opening of thiophen-2(5H)-ones 1 in alcohols affording α, β-unsaturated mercapto esters 2 is presented. Regio-and stereochemical aspects of the ring closure of alkenylthio (type 3 ) radicals 15 and 17 to S-heterocycles 16 and 18 , of 3-thiahex-5-enyl radicals 4 to (tetrahydrothien-3-yl)methyl radicals 6 and of (2,3-dihydrothien-3-yl)methyl radicals 30 (type 7, but-3-enyl radicals) to cyclopropane-methyl radicals 29 are discussed. Irradiation (λ 350 nm) of 1 in cyclohexane in the presence of 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene affords 2 + 2] cycloadducts 14 albeit in very low yields.