The photosensitised oxidation of amines. Part III. The use of xanthone, fluorenone, p-aminobenzophenone, and methyl β-naphthyl ketone as sensitisers

Irradiation of oxygenated solutions of triethylamine, di-n-propylamine, and n-propylamine, containing xanthone, fluorenone, p-aminobenzophenone, and methyl β-naphthyl ketone, results in the amines being oxidised. The reactions are interpreted as occurring by initial hydrogen abstraction from the amine by the excited ketone, to give radicals of the amines which subsequently react with oxygen to give the observed products.