Photolysis of Aromatic Oxime Benzoates

Abstract

Abstract Irradiation of aromatic oxime benzoates, R1R2C=N–OCOPh, in benzene solution gives the corresponding azines, (R1R2C=N–)2, and ketones, R1R2C=O, along with PhCO2NH4. PhCO2H and Ph2 are also obtained in all cases. The reaction course can be explained by assuming a radical fission of excited R1R2C=N–OCOPh which gives radicals R1R2C=N· and ·OCOPh in the initial step. Sensitization experiment establishes the fact that a triplet state of the oxime benzoate is involved as a chemically reactive species.