Photoaddition of ketones to imidazoles,thiazoles, isothiazoles and isoxazoles. Synthesis of their oxetanes

Imidazole itself did not undergo photoaddition reactions with ketones. However, irradiation of 1-acetyl and 1-benzoylimidazole, and 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole with benzophenone yielded oxetanes. On irradiation with carbonyl compounds, 1,2-dimethylimidazole and 1-benzylimidazole did not give oxetanes but a hydroxyaryl or hydroxyalkyl derivative. Thiazole itself did not yield any photoaddition product, but 2,4-dimethylthiazole afforded oxetanes on irradiation with benzophenone and with 3-benzoylpyridine. Irradiation of 2,4-dimethylthiazole with acetophenone led to the formation of a dimeric material. On irradiation with benzophenone, 4-methylisothiazole did not yield an oxetane but rather a hydroxyphenyl derivative. 3,5-Dimethylisoxazole on irradiation with benzophenone and with 3-benzoylpyridine gave oxetanes. Irradiation of 4,5-dimethylisoxazole yielded similarly an oxetane with benzophenone