Abstract
The configurations and the stereochemistry of two series of photocycloaddition products have been elucidated by means of 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy including intramolecular internuclear Overhauser effect measurements. The first series consists of the oxetans (3)–(6) obtained by photoreactions of benzophenone with 3- and 2-methylfuran (1a and b). furfuryl alcohol (1c), 2,3-dimethylfuran (1d), and 2,5-dimethylthiophen (1e). The second series includes photocycloaddition products (9)–(18) formed in reactions of methyl-substituted maleic anhydrides (8a and b) with thiophen (7a), methylthiophens (7b–d), and benzo[b] thiophen (15).