The generation of hydroxide and methoxide ions by photo-irradiation: use of aromatization to stabilize ionic photo-products from acridine derivatives

The photolysis of 9-hydroxy-10-methyl-9-phenyl-9,10-dihydroacridine 1 or its 9-methoxy derivative 2 occurs with heterolytic cleavage of a C–O bond and formation of the desired strong base together with a cation that stabilizes itself through aromatization.