about the sp3−sp2 bond have been determined in a number of hindered benzyl alcohols symmetrically substituted in the ortho positions, the substituents being F, Cl, Br, and Me. The free energies of activation covered the range 4.6−10.1 kcal mol-1. Ab initio computations matched satisfactorily the trend of these values and predicted the conformation adopted by these compounds. In one case, this result could