HYDROGEN ABSTRACTION AND CHARGE-TRANSFER IN BETA-ANILINOKETONES

The irradiation of beta-anilinoketones in benzene leads to the formati on of 2-anilinocyclopropanols by excitation of the benzoyl or the anil ino chromophore. A broad and structureless emission of the photoexcite d beta-anilinoketones is observed at 470 nm in polar solvents at 77 K in addition to the phosphorescence of the triplet ketones. This emissi on is thought to be caused by an exciplex. Photoinduced electron trans fer followed by proton transfer is believed to account for the formati on of the intermediate 1,3-hydroxybiradicals.