PHOTOCHEMICAL-REACTIONS OF NITROARENES WITH STYRENE

The irradiation of styrene in the presence of nitroarenes (nitrobenzen e, nitrothiophene and nitrofuran) in acetonitrile gives the correspond ing nitrones in high yields. This procedure represents a new method of styrene oxidation. The formation of byproducts is not detected. The f ailure of the photochemical oxidation of 1,1-diphenylethylene provides interesting information on the mechanism of the reaction. Initial ele ctron transfer gives an intermediate which, under our reaction conditi ons, cannot be detected. Subsequent fast oxidation gives the final pro duct.