Photolysis of Diary Triphenylmethylphosphonates

Abstract Synopsis. Upon UV irradiation in methanol,diaryl triphenylmethylphosponate underwent three types of elimination of two aryl groups to give biaryls: the first is an α,α-elimination of two phenyl groups from a triphenylmethyl group which leads to formation of the corresponding carbene intermidiate; the second is an elimination of two aryl groups from a diaryl ester group to afford biaryl; the third is an elimination of phenyl and aryl groups from both moieties to give arylbenzene.