PHOTOLYSIS OF ARYL ESTERS OF TRI- AND TETRACOORDINATE PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS

Abstract

Abstract Upon. UV excitation in methanol, some diaryl esters of alkyl- or alkenylphosphonates underwent an elimination of two aryl groups to give biaryls and the corresponding alkyl- or alkenylphosphonic acids. Tris(4-methoxyphenyl) phosphite also underwent a similar elimination to give 4,4′-dimethoxybiphenyl and 4-methoxyphenyl phosphonate. This interesting biaryl elimination was confirmed to proceed via a singlet intramolecular excimer by means of fluorescence spectra and Stern-Volmer analysis.