Photochemical oxidative dimerisation

Example Ester (59) was needed for a photochemical synthesis of chrysanthemate ester (60), a component of the pyrethrin insecticides. The a,B disconnection (59a) gives synthon (61) and aldehyde (62). This 8,y-unsaturated compound could be made by dehydration of (63) as the double bond can appear in only the required position. On page T 149 we discussed the synthesis of (62) by the aldol dimerisation of (64), An alternative strategy is to work at the ester oxidation level (65) which means synthon (66) is needed to combine with (64). 

The construction and properties of monolayers has been well documented by Kuhn (1979) and the photochemical reactions which occur in such systems reviewed (Whitten et al., 1977). Molecules in monolayers are usually ordered and in the case of rru/i -azastilbenes irradiation of the ordered array produces excimer emission and dimers (Whitten, 1979 Quina et al, 1976 Quina and Whitten, 1977). This contrasts with what is found when the fra/jj-isomers of such compounds are incorporated into micelles. In such systems the predominant reaction is cis-trans isomerisation excimer emission is lacking. It is suggested that the lack of isomerisation in the fatty acid monolayers is due to the tight packing and consequent high viscosity of such systems. Styrene also dimerises in a fatty acid monolayer. Interestingly, the products formed on photo-oxidation of protoporphyrins are dependent upon whether the reaction is carried out in a monolayer or a micelle (Whitten et al., 1978). Zinc octa-ethylporphyrin exhibits excimer emission in monolayers (Zachariasse and Whitten, 1973). Porphyrins are photoreduced by amines in monolayers (Mercer-Smith and Whitten, 1979). Electron-transfer reactions have been carried out with monolayers of stearic acid containing chlorophyll and electron acceptors such as quinones (Janzen et al., 1979 Janzen and Bolton, 1979). 

Of a comparatively small range of photochemical reactions described for quinolines and isoquinolines, perhaps the most intriguing are some hetero-ring rearrangements of quaternary derivatives, which can be illustrated by the ring expansions of their A-oxides to 3,1-benzoxazepines. As with 2-pyridones, 2-quinolones undergo 2h-2 photo-dimerisation involving the C-3-C-4 double bond. ... 

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