The 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA)-sensitized photoaddition of methanol to arylalkenes occurred both in benzene and acetonitrile to give the corresponding anti-Markownikoff type adducts. The efficiency of the photoreaction depended on the solvents and the structures of the substrates. The geminate radical ion pair in benzene and the solvent separated radical cation in acetonitrile were proposed as key
The photoreaction of a styrene/4-tributylstannylmethyl styrene (4:1) copolymer with di- and tetra-cyanoaromatic compounds in benzene-acetonitrile (1:1) gave polymers having cyanoaromatic functions in the side chain. These polymers were soluble in benzene and served as effective and recoverable sensitizers for three different types of photoinduced electron-transfer mediated organic photoreactions.