Solvolysis and ring closure of quinone methides photogenerated from biaryl systems

A variety of biaryl quinone methides have been photogenerated with a range of efficiencies from biaryl precursors 4–6 and 8, 10, and 11, all having hydroxyl and hydroxymethyl substituents on alternate rings. These novel biaryl quinone methides, which cannot be readily generated via thermal chemistry, are trapped by added nucleophiles such as MeOH and ethanolamine; two that cannot undergo electrocyclic ring closure (from 8 and 11) are readily observable by nanosecond laser photolysis, with long wavelength maxima (λmax) of 600 and 520 nm, respectively. Photogenerated o,o′-biaryl quinone methides undergo electrocyclic ring closure to give the corresponding chromene (pyran) products in high yield. Since the precursor biaryl alcohols have highly twisted structures in the ground state (dihedral angle of up to 90° by molecular mechanics calculations), a significant twisting motion to planarity is required to achieve reaction. Using steady-state fluorescence studies, we present evidence to suggest that the mechanism of quinone methide formation may occur via one of the following mechanisms: (i) dissociation of the proton from ArOH that precedes twisting; or (ii) ArOH dissociation and twisting taking place either simultaneously or in quick succession.Key words: biaryl quinone methide, photosolvolysis, photodeprotonation, photocyclization.