The photolytic preparation of cyclopentadienyl and phenyl nitrene from benzene derivatives

The flash photolysis of phenols, anilines, nitrobenzenes and some other benzene derivatives results in a novel ring fission process and the production of cyclopentadienyl radicals. The spectra of cyclopentadienyl, and its derivatives obtained from doubly substituted benzenes, have been recorded and analysed in part. A spectrum attributed to phenyl nitrene has been observed after flash photolysis of ortho chloro aniline, ortho bromo aniline and phenyl isocyanate.