Abstract: The photohydration by intramolecular proton transfer of compounds 1-12 has been studied. The non-nitro-substituted o-hydroxystyrenes photohydrate cleanly via the Markovnikov addition of water to afford the 1-arylethanols. The nitro-substituted o- hydroxystyrenes showed no dependence of product quantum yield with change in pH. The products isolated and identified in this case were the corresponding 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) ...
