Chemistry of 3-arylindenones: behavior in superacids and photodimerization

In superacids HSO3F and CF3SO3H, it has been found that 3-arylindenones are very stable and exist as a doubly protonated species. NMR showed protonation both at the oxygen of the carbonyl group and at the C2 carbon of the indenone system. 3-Arylindenones proved however very sensitive to heat and light. Their [2+2] photodimerization under daylight has been studied.