Photochemistry of 5.6-epoxy-1,3-dienes : Influence of a 7-hydroxy substituent

Abstract

Triplet sensitization of the 7-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-1,3-diene 10 causes cleavage of the C(5),0 epoxide bond followed by the formation of the three isomers 11– 13 or induces scission of the C(6), C(7) bond followed by the formation of the aldehyde 14 and the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptanols 15 and 16. However, irradiation of the corresponding acetate 18 gives only C(5),0 epoxide bond scission ( 18 → f) followed by the cyclization process f → 19, the 1,2-Me shifts f → 20, 21 and the γ-H abstraction f → g leading to the cyclopropane formation g → 22.