title: Base-induced photocyclization of 1,2-diaryl-1-tosylethenes. A mechanistically novel approach to phenanthrenes and phenanthrenoids.
abstract: The irradiation with UV light of a number of 1,2-diaryl-1-tosylstilbenes, in the presence of base, leads to the corresponding phenanthrenes and heterocyclic analogues. These results are consistent with a mechanism involving the base-induced elimination of p-toluenesulfinic acid from an intermediate 9-tosyl-4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene, formed by photochemical cyclization of the starting 1,2-diaryl-1-tosylstilbenes. [reaction: see text]
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Orgánica y Unidad Asociada al CSIC, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782-Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castedo
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Ana G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Neo
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tojo