Inter- and intramolecular triplet sensitization of two 1,2-diaryldiazo
ethanes in methanol gives rise to stilbenes 3 and ther 5 by intramolec
ular 1,2-H shifts and intermolecular reaction with methanol, respectiv
ely. The sensitized results were compared with those obtained from dir
ect photolysis to determine the relative importance of excited stare r
eactivity of the diazo precursors. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd.