Phototriggered release of a leaving group in Ketoprofen derivatives via a benzylic carbanion pathway, but not via a biradical pathway.

2-Acetoxymethyl-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (KP-OAc) was used as a model to elucidate the solvent-mediated photochemistry mechanism of Ketoprofen (KP). In solutions with a low concentration of water, KP-OAc exhibits a benzophenone-like photochemistry, reacting with water molecules through some reaction to form a ketyl radical intermediate. In neutral solutions with a high concentration of water or acidic solutions, KP-OAc undergoes a photodecarboxylation reaction with the assistance of water molecules or with the catalysis of perchloric acid to directly generate a biradical intermediate that cannot induce the phototrigger reaction to release the AcO(-) group. Therefore, the lifetime of the biradical intermediate of KP-OAc is almost same as that of the biradical intermediate formed from KP in the same kinds of solutions. However, the photodecarboxylation of KP-OAc in phosphate buffer solution directly produces the benzylic carbanion intermediate, which can induce the phototrigger reaction to release the AcO(-) group. Therefore, the lifetime of the biradical intermediate of KP-OAc is significantly shorter than the lifetime of the biradical intermediate of KP in phosphate buffer solution. Interestingly, the investigation of the photochemistry of KP-OAc not only verifies the solvent-mediated photochemistry mechanism of KP but also provides some new insight into the potential of using this kind of platform for phototrigger applications. The biradical intermediate is not the key species leading to the phototrigger reaction but the benzylic carbanion species is the key reactive intermediate that can mediate the phototrigger reaction of KP-OAc. Therefore, a change in the pH of the solutions can be utilized to switch on and switch off the photorelease reactions of KP derivative phototrigger compounds.