Reductive photocyclization of benzo[b]furans and their analogs

The UV irradiation of substituted 2,3-diphenylbenzob]furans and of 2,3-diphenyl-5-t-butylfuran in n-propylamine gives 1,4-dihydro derivatives of the corresponding aromatic cyclized compounds. This reaction does not involve a photoreduction. It can be concluded from deuterium labelling experiments that H atoms of the alkyl chain of n-propylamine are incorporated in the product. When the solvent is not an unhindered primary amine, only totally aromatic photocyclized products are obtained. It is proposed that hydrogens eliminated during formation of the isolated compounds are released in a reductive form and not as radicals. This is supported by the fact that acenaphthylene is reduced when irradiated in n-propylamine together with 2,3-diphenylbenzob]furan under conditions which do not promote, photoreduction. This seems to be a general finding in that the irradiation of stilbene in n-propylamine to acenaphthylene is the same as that of 2,3-diphenylbenzob]furan.