Photoisomerization of the boron trihalide complexes of eucarvone

The photoisomerization of the BF 3 , BCl 3 and BBr 3 complexes of eucarvone (2,6,6-trimethylcyclohepta-2,4-dienone), 1, have been examined. Irradiation of these zwitterions at low temperature gave, after subsequent recovery of decomplexed materials, 3,7,7-trimethylbicyclo-[4.1.0]hept-2-en-4-one, 2, 2-methyl-5-isopropylphenol, 3, 2-methyl-6-isopropylphenol, 4, dehydrocamphor, 5, and carvone, 6. In the case of 1•BF 3 and 1•BCl 3 the initial …