Photocyclization reactions. Part<b>6</b>. Solvent and substituent effects in the synthesis of dihydrobenzofuranols using photocyclization of 2-alkoxybenzophenones and ethyl 2-benzoylphenoxyacetates
Photocyclization reactions were carried out on 2-alkoxybenzophenones 1a-h and ethyl 2-benzoyl-phenoxyacetates 5a-e in three solvents of different polarity (benzene, acetonitrile and methanol) to examine solvent and substituenteffects on the cyclization of 1,5-biradical intermediates to dihydrobenzofuranols. Irradiation of 1a-f in benzene gave dihydrobenzofuranols 4a-f in 80–94% yields. The ratios