PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF ACENAPHTHENE AT A SILICA GEL AIR INTERFACE/

The photolysis of acenapthene (ACE) has been studied at a silica gel/a ir interface. Direct photolysis leads to 1-acenaphthenol as the princi pal photoproduct. Secondary photochemical conversion of the alcohol in to 1-acenaphthenone is also observed. Reactions leading to formation o f both 1-acenaphthenol and 1-acenaphthenone are attributed to electron -transfer oxidation mechanisms and the cation radical of ACE is direct ly observed by transient diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Preconditio ning the silica gel by heating at 200 degrees C in air partially remov es physisorbed water from the silica surface and photochemical convers ion of ACE is observed to occur faster. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.