1,N-RADICAL IONS - PHOTOSENSITIZED (ELECTRON-TRANSFER) CARBON-CARBON BOND-CLEAVAGE - FORMATION OF 1,6-RADICAL CATIONS

The reactivity of the radical cations of methyl 2,2-diphenylcyclohexyl ether (7), 6,6-diphenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane (8), methyl cis- and trans-2-phenylcyclohexyl ether (9 cis and trans), and 6-phenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane (10), generated by photosensitized (electron transfer) irradiation, has been studied. Solutions of the ethers and acetals in acetonitrile-methanol (3:1), with 1,4-dicyanobenzene (2) serving as the electron acceptor, were irradiated with a medium-pressure mercury vapour lamp through Pyrex. The diphenyl derivatives 7 and 8 were reactive; 7 gave 6,6-diphenylhexanal dimethyl acetal (11) and 8 gave 2-methoxy-2-(5,5-diphenylpentyl)-1,3-dioxolane (12). These are the products expected from the intermediate 1,6-radical cation, formed upon carbon-carbon bond cleavage of the cyclic radical cation. The monophenyl derivatives 9 cis and trans and 10 were stable under these irradiation conditions. The mechanism for the carbon-carbon bond cleavage and for the cis-trans isomerization is discussed. An explanation, based upon conformation, is offered for the lack of reactivity of 9 and 10. Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations were used to determine the preferred conformation of 9cis and trans, and 10.