R. Duguid, H. Morrison
Feb 1, 1991
Citations
0
Influential Citations
8
Citations
Journal
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Abstract
The photochemistry of 3-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (3-MDHN) and 4-methyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (4-MDHN) has been studied in the gas phase. Two pathways appear to dominate the photochemistry: retro [4+2] cycloaddition to give o-quinodimethane intermediates and sequential hydrogen shifts. These pathways derive from S 2 and/or upper vibrational levels of S 1 (S 1 vib ) as indicated by the characteristic responses of their ultimate products to the presence of buffer gas. The benzocyclobutenes are unique; they are postulated to arise through a 2+2 closure of a vibrationally relaxed precursor o-quinodimethane or via a [1,3] sigmatropic shift in a uniquely populated set of S 1 vib levels