Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) have been evaluated as a light source
for the sensitized generation of singlet oxygen used in the oxidation of 1,3-butadienes
and furfural derivatives using a range of dyes including rose bengal, methylene blue,
and tetraphenylporphyrin. An ambient temperature water jacket was sufficient to cool
reaction mixtures due to the low heat output of lamps and the reaction rates using
110 W of CFL were slower but comparable to those obtained using a 500 W tungsten halogen
lamp. The conditions were applied to the photooxidation of a series of furan aldehydes
and 1,3-butadienes to give products in good yield in 4–96 hours.
Key words
peroxides - photooxidation - photochemistry - pericyclic reaction - oxygenations -
sensitizer