Photochemistry of (ferrocenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium salts

Abstract

The photochemistry of (ferrocenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium salts in acetonitrile and in acetonitrile–alcohols/amines is investigated. In acetonitrile, the only ferrocenyl product arises from reactions of ferrocenylmethyl radicals, whilst in mixtures of acetonitrile–alcohols/amines, high yields of the photosolvolysis products are obtained. The effect of the phosphonium salt counterion is investigated and a mechanism is proposed to account for the product distribution. The possible role of the metal in the reactions is discussed.