PHOTOLYSIS OF TRIPHENYLACETIC ACID AND ITS METHYL-ESTER - A NOVEL PHOTOCHEMICAL GENERATION OF CARBENE INTERMEDIATES

The photolysis of methyl triphenylacetate in methanol gave biphenyl, methyl α-methoxyphenylacetate, methyl benzoate, and methoxydiphenylmethane. The formation of these products suggests that two types of α,α-elimination take place: One is the elimination of two phenyl groups leaving Ph-C-CO2Me (type a), and the other is the elimination of the phenyl and methoxycarbonyl groups generating PH2C: (type b). Only type a elimination was efficiently quenched by oxygen. © 1990 The Chemical Society of Japan.