ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 29, Number 4
JKCSEZ 29(4)
August 20, 1985 

Several benzanilides were prepared by acylation of anilines with substituted benzoyl chlorides. While 2-chlorobenzanilides were photocyclized, 2-methylbenzanilide and 2'-methylbenzanilide were cleaved to give photo-Fries type products. 2-Nitrobenzanilide and 2'-nitrobenzanilide were inert in the above conditions due to lowering energy of the excited state by the nitro group. N, N-dibenzoylaniline and N, N-di-(2-chlorobenzoyl) aniline gave photo-Fries type reaction products effectively. In the benzanilide photo-Fries type reaction the excited singlet state was believed to be involved, since no oxygen effect was observed on the reaction rate. Quantum yield for 2-methylbenzanilide is higher in nonpolar and less viscous solvents than in polar and viscous solvents. The solvent cage radical pair is suggested in the photo-Fries type reaction of benzanilides.