PHOTOCONDENSATION IN POLYCRYSTALLINE MIXTURES OF ARYLACETIC ACIDS AND 1,2,4,5-TETRACYANOBENZENE

Irradiation of simple polycrystalline mixtures (1:1 molar ratios) of phenylacetic acids, such as 4-tolylacetic acid and 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid, and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene caused decarboxylations followed by dehydrocyanating condensation to give monobenzyltricyanobenzenes and dibenzyldicyanobenzenes. In the case of a polycrystalline mixture of 9-fluorenecarboxylic acid and tetracyanobenzene, the decarboxylation product 9-fluorene was obtained as the main product. The reactions proceed at the interface of the component crystallites. The product selectivities were different from those of the solution reactions.