Phototransformation of sterically hindered phenol in organic solvents

Abstract

1. The kinetics of the phototransformation of sterically hindered phenol inorganic solvents was investigated. The singlet state is the photochemically active state. The phenol is consumed according to a first-order law. The quantum yields of the phototransformation for the investigated phenol in various solvents amount to ∼ 10−2−10−3. 2. It was found that the phototransformation of phenol is accelerated in alcohols, and this was explained by chemical reaction of the singlet excited molecules of the phenol with oxygen. 3. In a frozen (77°K) solution the phototransformation of sterically hindered phenol occurs by a two-quantum mechanism.