Photo-additions of lndenes and Naphthalene with Acrylonitrile

Abstract

The products and mechanisms of some photo-reactions of indenes and naphthalene with acrylonitrile have been studied. Indene reacts with acrylonitrile with the hydrocarbon absorbs light, or when a triplet sensitizer is absorbing. Photolysis under the former condition yields 2-(1-indenyl)- and 2-(3-indenyl)propionitrile, and 6-cyano-2,3-benzobicyclo[3,2,0]hep-2-ene. Base-catalyzed isomerizations of the substituted indenes are reported. On sensitization, cis- and trans-isomers of 7-cyano-2,3-benzobicyclo[3,2,0]hep-2-ene are formed; the known indene dimer is a minor product. Adducts 1,1-dimethyl- and 1,1-diphenylidene with acrylonitrile are also described. Naphthalene adds to acrylonitrile on photolysis to afford trans-8-cyano-2,3-benzobicyclo[4.2.0] octa-2,4-diene and 1- and 2-naphthyl-2-propionitriles. Sensitization gives no detectable products. Studies on fluorescence quenching, solvent effect and deuterium-labelling indicates that exciplexes are formed between acrylonitrile and the excited hydrocarbons. Inter- or intra-molecular protonation of the exciplexes with subsequent reaction of the carbonium ion formed, is suggested to produce indenes or naphthalenes. Possible mechanisms for the formation of other products are proposed.