Upon irradiation of 3,4-di-O-benzyl-hypericin and proton sponge (bis-1,8-N,
N-dimethylamino-naphthalene) in benzene solution, a stable radical ion pair
formed which exhibited an intense absorption band around 800nm. This was a
dvanced by UV/Vis, NMR, and ESR spectroscopy. In presence of oxygen, irradi
ation of this photoproduct led to an activated oxygen species which then at
tacked the proton sponge.