Chemistry of photogenerated α-hydroxy-p-nitrobenzyl carbanions in aqueous solution: protonation vs. disproportionation

The photochemistry of p-nitrobenzyl derivatives 6–10 has been studied in aqueous solution as a function of pH, using product analysis, UV–vis spectrophotometry, and laser flash photolysis (LFP). The compounds were chosen with the aim of further exploring the propensity of these systems to give rise to α-hydroxy-p-nitrobenzyl carbanions on photolysis, and to study their mechanisms of subsequent reaction. α-Hydroxy-substituted carbanions are anions that cannot be readily formed using thermal routes but which are believed to have some interesting chemistry. Three methods were employed for photogenerating these carbanions: (i) decarboxylation; (ii) retro-Aldol reaction; and (iii) carbon acid deprotonation. All three methods proved to be successful using the p-nitrobenzyl chromophore. Photogenerated α-hydroxy-p-nitrobenzyl carbanions react via disproportionation, giving rise to oxidized and reduced products; simple protonation of the anion was undetectable.Key words: photodecarboxylation, nitrobenzyl carbanions, photoredox, nitroaromatic compounds, excited-state carbon acids.