Ionic liquid soluble photosensitizers

The preparation and investigation of triplet photosensitizers designed to be preferentially soluble in room-temperature ionic liquids are reported. Photosensitizers prepared by covalent attachment of 1-methylimidazole to aryl ketones are soluble in ionic liquids and remain in the ionic liquid layer when the solution is extracted with an organic solvent. The photosensitized isomerization of trans-β-ionol to cis-β-ionol was efficiently carried out in ionic liquid solution with the product ionol being extracted and the sensitizer/ionic liquid mixture being re-used in additional photosensitization reactions. The scope and utility of the sensitizers in sensitizing other reactions are discussed.