PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION OF CHRYSENE IN ACETONITRILE/WATER

Abstract

The photochemical reaction of chrysene under UVA light irradiation in acetonitrile/water yields 1,4- and 5,6-chrysenequinones and one lactone, H-benzo[d]naphtha[1,2-b]pyran-6-one. Solvent-dissolved oxygen is necessary for the photolysis. The presence of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, La₂O₃, KI, or I₂ decreased the photolysis rate. The free radical scavenger, Na₂S₂O₃, greatly suppressed the chrysene photolysis, indicating that a free radical process was involved. Also, a self-catalysis phenomenon for chrysene photolysis was observed and investigated.

Keywords:

• chrysene
• photochemistry
• photolysis
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
• self-catalysis