A series of alkoxy-containing-alkyl phenylglyoxylates have been synthe
sized and their photochemical reactions studied, The intention was to
probe structural requirements for remote hydrogen abstraction, Product
s resulting from 1,10- and 1,11-hydrogen abstraction were isolated fro
m the photochemical reactions of 4'-methoxybutyl phenylglyoxylate 3d a
nd 5'-benzyloxypentyl phenylglyoxylate 3h respectively. Products resul
ting from Norrish Type II and intermolecular hydrogen abstraction reac
tions were also isolated, Triplet lifetimes of representative compound
s were measured by laser flash photolysis.