In the context of our work on photocleavable fragrance precursors, we have discovered a new photo-fragmentation of xanthenoic esters into xanthene- and formyl radicals. This homolytic cleavage has not been reported previously. Thus, unsaturated formyl radicals cyclise to lactones of various ring size. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The reductive radical cyclizations of several epoxy esters have been achieved using titanocene chloride. The tether length from the initial radical to the carbonyl acceptor is the key of the reactions. We obtained products from radical cyclization onto carbonyl formate and products from formate and hydrogen elimination. The stereochemical outcome of the 5-exo radical cyclization of two diastereomers is reported. A radical cascade cyclization of an unsaturated epoxy formate is also described. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.