Photooxygenation of alkanes by dioxygen with p-benzoquinone derivatives with high quantum yields

Abstract

Alkanes were oxygenated by dioxygen with p-benzoquinone derivatives such as p-xyloquinone in alkanes which are used as solvents to yield the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides, alcohols and ketones under visible light irradiation with high quantum yields (Phi = 1000, 1600%). The photooxygenation is started by hydrogen atom abstraction from alkanes by the triplet excited states of p-benzoquinone derivatives as revealed by laser-induced transient absorption spectral measurements.