Deuterium kinetic isotope effects in homogeneous decatungstate catalyzed photooxygenation of 1,1-diphenylethane and 9-methyl-9H-fluorene: evidence for a hydrogen abstraction mechanism

The homogeneous decatungstate W 10 O 32 4 - catalyzed photooxygenation of 1,1-diphenylethane and 9-methyl-9H-fluorene has been studied mechanistically. The primary and β-secondary kinetic isotope effects provide strong evidence for a stepwise mechanism, with a hydrogen atom abstraction in the rate-determining step.