The Formation of Oxetanes from Carbonyls and Olefins

This reaction was first discovered by Paterno and Chieffi in 1909. These workers isolated a compound from the photolysis of benzophenone in 

In 1934 this reaction was more extensivdiy investigated by Buchi,.Inman, and Lipinsky/ who confirmed the oxetane structure of the photoproduct. To credit their initial work on this interesting reaction, it commonly is referred to as the Patemo-Buchi reaction. 

---