benzyl methyl ether gives the two diastereoisomeric 1-substituted 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes. A stereochemical assignment for these products, and related diastereoisomers pairs is proposed. The reaction occurs via the free radical ions and the low quantum efficiency is due to the slow deprotonation of the radical cation, with only moderate salt effect. In accordance with this scheme, the reaction with benzyl
A stabilizationenergy of 1.5–2.0 kcal·mol−1 is estimated for α-methoxyalkyl radicals from the strain enthalpies and the free enthalpies of thermal decomposition of three glycol ethers 1.