THE PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION OF 1-HALO-2-(PHENYLAKYL)BENZENES

Haloarene in which the phenyl group and halophenyl group are connected by alkyl groups were synthesized to study the photochemical behavior. The photochemical reactions of 1-halo-2-(phenylalkyl)enzenes (1 and 2) were studied in several aerated or unaerated solvents. In the case of 2-benzyl-1-halobenzene photoreduced product (biphenyl) is major in acetonitrile or benzene. In cyclohexane or acetonitrile with triethylamine, photoreduced product is obtained exclusively, while in acetonitrile with toluene, xylene, or sodium hydroxide photocyclized product (fluorene) is mainly obtained. In the case of 1-halo-2-phenethylbenzenes (5 and 6), photocyclized product (9,10-dihydrophenanthrene and phenanthrene) are major in acetonitrile or benzene. While the haloarenes 1 or 2 connecting the two arene rings by methylene is photoreduced, the other haloarene 5 or 6 connecting by ethylene is photocyclized. In cyclohexane or acetonitrile with a small amount of triethylamine, photoreduced reactions of 5 or 6 mainly occur. In acetonitrile with sodium hydroxide, toluene, or xylene, photocyclization of 5, 6 occur exclusively. The triplet state is mainly involved in the photocyclization of 5 or 6, because of the inhibition of oxygen.