title: A remarkably long-lived benzyl carbanion.
abstract: [structure: see text] The photochemistry of ketoprofen, a widely used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) has been the subject of several studies as a result of its known phototoxicity. Photolysis of ketoprofen leads to 3-ethylbenzophenone, a process that is mediated by a short-lived carbanion. We have found that under carefully controlled conditions in THF, the lifetime of the carbanion can be extended to several hours, thus providing a powerful tool for studying the mechanism of its formation and subsequent reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada. tito@photo.chem.uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laferrière
authors.forename: Carlos N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sanramé
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Scaiano