Photochemistry of 2<i>H</i>-Azirine—Formation of Nitrile Ylide Evidenced by Laser Flash Photolysis and Pulse Radiolysis—

Abstract

Abstract Laser flash photolysis of 3-(4-biphenylyl)-2H-azirine (AZ) was carried out in cyclohexane for the direct detection of a nitrile ylide (NY). Two kinds of transient species, triplet AZ (T1) and NY, have been measured. Decay rates of these species were determined to be 6.7×105 s−1 (T1) and 8×10 s−1 (NY). The rate constants for the reactions of NY toward acetone and acrylonitrile were determined to be 2.5×103 dm3 mol−1 s−1 and 2.3×106 dm3 mol−1 s−1, respectively. These results were supported by the results of pulse radiolysis of AZ in benzene and stational irradiations of AZ.