PHOTOCHEMICAL HYDROGEN FORMATION FROM A WATER-SOLUBLE ACETOPHENONE DERIVATIVE IN PRESENCE OF COLLOIDAL PLATINUM

Photochemical reaction of an acetophenone derivative, darocure, has be en investigated from the viewpoint of hydrogen evolution on the surfac e of colloidal platinum. The hydrogen yield was studied under various conditions. The effect of adding ethyl alcohol and/or triethylamine as hydrogen donors was also studied. The hydrogen yield was found to be low in aqueous solution due to destruction of darocure by is-proportio nal-to-cleavage. However, in the presence of ethanol or triethylamine, the hydrogen yield was enhanced and continuous hydrogen evolution was obtained due to the recyclization of (i) acetone in ethanol and (ii) darocure in triethylamine aqueous solution.