Butyrophenones, photolysis

In 1978, we observed that flash photolysis of butyrophenone produced acetophenone enol as a transient intermediate, which allowed us to determine the acidity constant KE of the enol from the pH-rate profile (section pH Rate Profiles ) of its decay in aqueous base.4 That work was a sideline of studies aimed at the characterization of biradical intermediates in Norrish Type II reactions and we had no intentions to pursue it any further. Enter Jerry Kresge, who had previously determined the ketonization kinetics of several enols using fast thermal methods for their generation. He immediately realized the potential of the photochemical approach to study keto enol equilibria and quickly convinced us that this technique should be further exploited. We were more than happy to follow suit and to cooperate with this distinguished, inspiring, and enthusing chemist and his cherished wife Yvonne Chiang, who sadly passed away in 2008. Over the years, this collaboration developed into an intimate friendship of our families. This chapter is an account of what has been achieved. Several reviews in this area appeared in the years up to 1998.5 10... 

II cleavage (flash photolysis) of butyrophenone [65] in weakly basic solution (41). The UV spectrum is typical of the enolate ion [67] and the UV... 

David et al. [9] have studied the photolysis of poly(phenyl vinyl ketone) in detail. Irradiation in solution or in the solid state reduces the molecular weight and was compared with the photolysis of butyrophenone. The principal mechanism was... 

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