Photosolvolysis of optically active 4-methyl-cyclohexylidenemethyl(aryl)iodonium tetrafluoroborate

The title reaction gives largely racemized 4-methylcycloheptanone, but the enantiomeric product in slight excess has a different form depending on the leaving group, ArI, of the iodonium salt. The results indicate that the photosolvolysis does not proceed via a completely achiral state.