Medium effects on the H-Atom Abstraction and Silyl-Transfer Photoreactions of Silylalkyl Ketones

Mediumeffects have been explored on the competitive H-atom abstraction and SET-promoted, silyl-transfer reactions of excited states of silylalkyl-substituted phenyl ketones. The chemical selectivities of photochemical reactions of silylalkyl phenyl ketones appear to depend on medium polarity, medium silophilicity, added metal cation and alkyl length. Irradiations of silylalkylketones in aqueous solvent system and in presence of metal cation such as $Li^+$ and $Mg^{+2} $lead to formation of acetophenone predominantly by the sequential SET-silyl transfer route.