Results of a photochemical study based on product analysis and 337.1-nm laser flash photolysis are reported for several cis-and trans-1, 2-dibenzoylethylenes bearing aziridinyl groups at the 1-position. Products isolated from steady-state photolysis suggest facile ring expansion yielding pyrrolines as well as extrusion of alkenes from the aziridine moieties forming nitrene fragments, which subsequently undergo ring closure to give isoxazoles. ...
