TITANIUM-DIOXIDE PHOTOCATALYZED ALKYLATION OF MALEIC-ACID DERIVATIVES

The irradiation of a nitrogen-flushed acetonitrile suspension of titan ium dioxide in the presence of benzyltrimethylsilane, its 4-methoxy de rivative or 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid as the donors and maleic acid, maleic anhydride or related nitriles as the accepters leads to the cor responding benzylsuccinic acid derivatives via electron, hole transfer and fragmentation of the benzyl radical cation (such a cleavage is to o slow with 4-methoxytoluene). A rationale of the reaction and an eval uation of the synthetic significance of the method are given. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.