THE PHOTOCYCLOADDITION OF DIBENZOYLMETHANATOBORON DIFLUORIDE (DBMBF2) WITH CONJUGATED ENONES AND EN-ESTERS

Dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2), the BF2 complex of dibenzoylmethane, reacted from its singlet excited state with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and esters to give 1,5-diketones by a [2+2] cycloaddition and ring-opening sequence in an analogous pathway to that observed in the photocycloaddition to olefins and dienes. The present photoreaction is unexpected since conjugated enones and en-esters are poor electron donors to comply with the previously proposed charge transfer requirement in DBMBF2 photoreactions. The photocycloaddition to these substrates was highly regioselective and stereoselective, giving the head-to-head orientation, which could be enhanced by alpha-methyl substitution; beta-methyl substitution increased the alternate head-to-tail orientation. The photolysis of a mixture of DBMBF2 and a cyclic enone also caused the latter to dimerize to give head-to-head and head-to-tail dimers in significant yields. These photodimerizations were apparently caused by DBMBF2 sensitization. The mechanism of the sensitization is discussed.