Photochemical Electron-transfer Reaction between Aromatic Olefins and Metal Ions. Dependence of the Reaction Course on the Structure of the Olefins

Abstract

Abstract To investigate the photochemical electron transfer from aromatic olefins to copper(II) or iron(III) ions, a series of substituted styrenes (1) was irradiated in the presence of copper(II) or iron(III) salts in methanol, which gave dimethoxylated monomers (2) and one or more of three types of dimethoxylated dimers [α,α- (3), α,β- (4), and β,β,-dimers (5)]. The formation of these products are reasonably attributed to the participation of the cation radicals of the olefins generated by electron transfer from the excited olefins to the metal ions. Substituents on the substrates are found to govern the reaction products.