Preparation of 1,4-dicyanobenzene derivatives and the substituent effect of the sensitizers on photoinduced electron-transfer reactions

Substituted 1,4-dicyanobenzenes are prepared as electron-accepting photosensitizers. The efficiency of some photosensitized reactions is influenced remarkably by the substituent(s) of 1,4-dicyanobenzene. By using mono or dimethylated dicyanobenzene, the reactions proceed more rapidly as compared with that by using 1,4-dicyanobenzene itself.