A Novel Photoreaction of (2-Hydroxyethoxyphenyl)pentamethyldisilane

A Novel Photoreaction of (2-Hydroxyethoxyphenyl)pentamethyldisilane

Photolysis of (2-hydroxyethoxyphenyl)pentamethyldisilane 2 in benzene provides a novel intramolecular cyclization photoproduct 9 which was probably formed from the intramolecular reaction to form a seven-membered ring in silatriene intermediate 7 and then the photochemical disrotatory ring closure of 1,3-butadiene moiety to cyclobutene. Irradiation of 2 in methanol afforded photoproducts 5 and 6 which were formed by the nucleophilic attack of methanol to $\beta$ or $\alpha$ silicon atom in pentamethyldisilanyl group of the photoexcited state of 2. Compounds 10 and 11 were also formed by the same way as in the formation of the photoproducts 5 and 6 in the photolysis of (2-allyloxyethoxyphenyl)pentamethyldisilane 3 in methanol solvent. Photoreaction of (2-acetoxyethoxyphenyl) pentamethyldisilane 4 in methanol gave a photoproduct 12 which was formed via the elimination of dimethylsilylene species in the photoexcited state of 4.