Isomer formation selectivity in the reactions of the excited singlet and triplet states of pyruvates: A CIDEP study
Buckley CD., McLauchlan KA.
On irradiation in solution in hydrogen-donating solvents, methyl and ethyl pyruvate react through their excited singlet and triplet states to yield a pair of isomeric radicals. Each isomer is formed via both pathways, but in some solvents one is produced predominantly from the singlet state and the other from the triplet state. The behaviour is rationalised to a large extent by consideration of the overall symmetry of the excited states of the parent molecule, in its two isomeric forms, leading to the concept of triplet state spin symmetry control of the reaction. © 1989.