Photoinduced hydrogen atom abstraction in N-(adamantyl)phthalimides: structure–reactivity study in the solid state

Adamantyl-functionalized phthalimides were synthesized and the probability of intramolecular photochemical hydrogen atom abstraction in the solid state analyzed by X-ray crystallographic analyses. These analyses and solid-state photolyses showed that the parameters determining photochemical reactivity for typical carbonyl compounds in the solid state can also be extended to phthalimides. Only N-(2-adamantyl)phthalimide underwent a solid-state photochemical reaction, which is the first example in the phthalimide series. This reaction is regio- and stereoselective, resulting in an endo-alcohol. On the other hand, the photoreaction of N-(2-adamantyl)phthalimide in solution gives an exo-alcohol as the main product together with an endo-alcohol and a benzazepindione.