Benzoate esters, electron transfer

As discussed above (Section 66.3), phenacyl ester radical anions fragment readily to phenacyl radicals and carboxylate anions. The radical anions of benzoate esters also fragment to carboxylate anions and alkyl radicals, and this process is faster if the alkyl radical is stabilized (3°, benzyhc). This concept has been applied successfully to the deoxygenation of carbohydrate alcohols by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) sensitization. For instance, irradiation of 38 in water/2-propanol, using a substituted... 

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