Photochemical reactions. 134th Communication. Photochemistry of 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-3,4-methano-β-ionone: Influence of a cyclopropane ring on the reactivity of an ylide intermediate

On ¹n,π*-excitation(λ > 347 nm), the diastereomeric methanoepoxyenones (E)- 6 undergo isomerization via C,O-cleavage of the oxirane leading to diastereomeric photoproducts ((E)- 5 →(E/Z)- 13 and 14 ; (E)- 6 →(E/Z)- 16 and 17 ). On ¹π,π*-excitation (λ = 254 nm) of either (E)- 5 ) or (E- 6 the photoproducts 9, 10 and 11 are formed. By laser flash photolysis (λ = 265 nm) the ylide intermediate 3 was detected, with a lifetime of 10 μs in MeCN at ambient temperature. Stern-Volmer analysis of the ylide quenching by MeOH disclosed that compounds 9 and 10 , but not 11 , arise from the ylide intermediate e .