Some sensitizers were used to initiate the photooxidn. of 9-benzylidenefluorene(BF). The sensitizer 9, 10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) was particularly effective on the reaction, leading to the formation of fluorenone and the corresponding epoxide of BF. The photooxidn. was proposed to proceed via electron transfer (ET) mechanism. Some evidences were given from UV spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry as well as Rehm-Weller theory for ET processes. Furthermore, an apparent quenching effect of BF on the fluorescence of DCA followed the Stern-Volmer equation, which indicated that the ET photooxidn. was diffusion-controlled and was consistent with the ET mechanism suggested.

Key words: FLUORENE P, PHOTOOXIDATION, ELECTRON TRANSFER, SENSITIZATION, CYANOGEN COMPOUNDS, ANTHRACENE P, BENZYLIDENE