Efficient production of enol ether radical cations by heterolytic cleavage of beta-mesylate radicals

[reaction: see text] alpha-Methoxy-beta-mesyloxy radicals were produced in laser flash photolysis reactions, and yields of enol ether radical cations formed by heterolytic fragmentation of the mesylate group were determined. The mesylate heterolysis reaction is faster than heterolyses of phosphate and bromide groups in analogous radicals and highly efficient in medium-polarity solvents.     

Kinetic studies of a fast, reversible alkene radical cation cyclization reaction

The radical cation formed by mesylate heterolysis from the 1,1-dimethyl-7,7-diphenyl-2-mesyloxy-6-heptenyl radical was studied in several solvents. Computational results suggest that the initially formed acyclic radical cation is a resonance hybrid with partial positive charge in both double bonds of 1,1-diphenyl-7-methyl-1,6-octadiene (10). Thiophenol trapping was used as the competing reaction for kinetic determinations. The acyclic radical cation rapidly equilibrates with a cyclic distonic radical cation, and thiophenol trapping gives acyclic product 10 and cyclic products, mainly trans-1-(diphenylmethyl)-2-(1-methylethenyl)cyclopentane (11). The rate constants for cyclization at ambient temperature were k = (0.5-2) x 10(10)(s-1), and those for ring opening were k = (1.5-9) x 10(10)(s-1). Laser flash photolysis studies in several solvents show relatively slow processes (k = (2.5-260) x 10(5)(s-1) that involve rate-limiting trapping reactions for the equilibrating radical cations. In mixtures of fluoroalcohols RfCH2OH in trifluoromethylbenzene, variable-temperature studies display small, and in one case a negative, activation energies, requiring equilibration reactions prior to the rate-limiting processes. Fast equilibration of acyclic and cyclic radical cations implies that product ratios can be controlled by the populations of the acyclic and cyclic species and relative rate constants for trapping each.     

Acid-, base-, and lewis-acid-catalyzed heterolysis of methoxide from an alpha-hydroxy-beta-methoxy radical: models for reactions catalyzed by coenzyme B12-dependent diol dehydratase

[Reaction: see text].A model for glycol radicals was employed in laser flash photolysis kinetic studies of catalysis of the fragmentation of a methoxy group adjacent to an alpha-hydroxy radical center. Photolysis of a phenylselenylmethylcyclopropane precursor gave a cyclopropylcarbinyl radical that rapidly ring opened to the target alpha-hydroxy-beta-methoxy radical (3). Heterolysis of the methoxy group in 3 gave an enolyl radical (4a) or an enol ether radical cation (4b), depending upon pH. Radicals 4 contain a 2,2-diphenylcyclopropane reporter group, and they rapidly opened to give UV-observable diphenylalkyl radicals as the final products. No heterolysis was observed for radical 3 under neutral conditions. In basic aqueous acetonitrile solutions, specific base catalysis of the heterolysis was observed; the pK(a) of radical 3 was determined to be 12.5 from kinetic titration plots, and the ketyl radical formed by deprotonation of 3 eliminated methoxide with a rate constant of 5 x 10(7) s(-1). In the presence of carboxylic acids in acetonitrile solutions, radical 3 eliminated methanol in a general acid-catalyzed reaction, and rate constants for protonation of the methoxy group in 3 by several acids were measured. Radical 3 also reacted by fragmentation of methoxide in Lewis-acid-catalyzed heterolysis reactions; ZnBr2, Sc(OTf)3, and BF3 were found to be efficient catalysts. Catalytic rate constants for the heterolysis reactions were in the range of 3 x 10(4) to 2 x 10(6) s(-1). The Lewis-acid-catalyzed heterolysis reactions are fast enough for kinetic competence in coenzyme B12 dependent enzyme-catalyzed reactions of glycols, and Lewis-acid-catalyzed cleavages of beta-ethers in radicals might be applied in synthetic reactions.     

Kinetics of radical heterolysis reactions forming alkene radical cations

Rate constants for heterolytic fragmentation of beta-(ester)alkyl radicals were determined by a combination of direct laser flash photolysis studies and indirect kinetic studies. The 1,1-dimethyl-2-mesyloxyhexyl radical (4a) fragments in acetonitrile at ambient temperature with a rate constant of k(het) > 5 x 10(9) s(-1) to give the radical cation from 2-methyl-2-heptene (6), which reacts with acetonitrile with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of k = 1 x 10(6) s(-1) and is trapped by methanol in acetonitrile in a reversible reaction. The 1,1-dimethyl-2-(diphenylphosphatoxy)hexyl radical (4b) heterolyzes in acetonitrile to give radical cation 6 in an ion pair with a rate constant of k(het) = 4 x 10(6) s(-1), and the ion pair collapses with a rate constant of k < or = 1 x 10(9) s(-1). Rate constants for heterolysis of the 1,1-dimethyl-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-2-(diphenylphosphatoxy)ethyl radical (5a) and the 1,1-dimethyl-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-2-(trifluoroacetoxy)ethyl radical (5b) were measured in various solvents, and an Arrhenius function for reaction of 5a in THF was determined (log k = 11.16-5.39/2.3RT in kcal/mol). The cyclopropyl reporter group imparts a 35-fold acceleration in the rate of heterolysis of 5a in comparison to 4b. The combined results were used to generate a predictive scale for heterolysis reactions of alkyl radicals containing beta-mesyloxy, beta-diphenylphosphatoxy, and beta-trifluoroacetoxy groups as a function of solvent polarity as determined on the E(T)(30) solvent polarity scale.     

Generation and absolute reactivity of an aryl enol radical cation in solution

Laser flash photolysis of 1-bromo-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetone in acetonitrile leads to the formation of the alpha-acyl 4-methoxybenzyl radical that under acidic conditions rapidly protonates to give detectable amounts of the radical cation of the enol of 4-methoxyphenylacetone. This enol radical cation is relatively long-lived in acidic acetonitrile (tau approximately equal to 200 micros), which is on the same order of magnitude as the radical cations of other 4-methoxystyrene derivatives. Rate constants for deprotonation of the radical cation and the acid dissociation constant for the enol radical cation were also determined using time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Deprotonation is rapid, taking place with a rate constant of 3.9 x 10(6) s(-1), but the enol radical cation is found to be only moderately acidic in acetonitrile having a pK(a) = 3.2. The lifetime of the enol radical cation was also found to be sensitive to the presence of oxygen and chloride. The sensitivity toward oxygen is explained by oxygen trapping the vinyloxy radical component of the enol radical cation/vinyloxy equilibrium, while chloride acts as a nucleophile to trap the enol radical cation.     

Rate constants for anilidyl radical cyclization reactions

[reaction: see text] N-Aryl-5,5-diphenyl-4-pentenamidyl radicals (3) were produced by 266 nm laser-flash photolysis of the corresponding N-(phenylthio) derivatives, and the rate constants for the cyclizations of these radicals were measured directly. The 5-exo cyclization reactions were fast (k(c) > 2 x 10(5) s(-1)), and radicals 3 generally behaved as electrophilic reactants with a Hammett correlation of rho = 1.9 for five of the six radicals studied. However, the p-methoxyphenyl-substituted radical 3f cyclized much faster than expected from the Hammett analysis. Variable temperature studies of parent radical 3a (aryl = phenyl) gave an Arrhenius function with log k = 9.2 - 4.4/2.3RT (kcal/mol). The rate constant for the reaction of p-ethylphenyl-substituted anilidyl radical 3b with Bu(3)SnH at 65 degrees C was k(T) = 4 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1).     

Alkoxy radical cyclizations onto silyl enol ethers relative to alkene cyclization, hydrogen atom transfer, and fragmentation reactions

This study examines the chemoselectivity of alkoxy radical cyclizations onto silyl enol ethers compared to competing cyclizations, 1,5-hydrogen atom transfers (1,5-HATs), and β-fragmentations. Cyclization onto silyl enol ethers in a 5-exo mode is greatly preferred over cyclization onto a terminal alkene. The selectivity decreases when any alkyl substitution is present on the competing alkene radical acceptor. Alkoxy radical 5-exo cyclizations displayed excellent chemoselectivity over competing β-fragmentations. Alkoxy radical 5-exo cyclizations onto silyl enol ether also outcompeted 1,5-HATs, even for activated benzylic hydrogen atoms. In tetrahydropyran synthesis, where 1,5-HAT has plagued alkoxy radical cyclization methodologies, 6-exo cyclizations were the dominant mode of reactivity. β-Fragmentation still remains a challenge for tetrahydropyran synthesis when an aryl group is present in the β position.     

Chemoselective oxygen-centered radical cyclizations onto silyl enol ethers

A new oxygen-centered radical cyclization onto silyl enol ethers has been developed and utilized for the synthesis of versatile siloxy-substituted tetrahydrofurans. The reactions display excellent chemoselectivity for cyclization onto the electron-rich silyl enol ether when competing terminal alkene cyclization, 1,5-hydrogen abstraction, and beta-fragmentation pathways are present. The increased chemoselectivity also allows for the synthesis of tetrahydropyrans, a challenging substrate class to access using oxygen-centered radical alkene cyclizations due to competing 1,5-hydrogen abstractions.     

Reactivity of 4-vinylphenol radical cations in solution: implications for the biosynthesis of lignans

Nanosecond laser flash photolysis studies of the radical cation of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene show that the radical cation reacts with neutral 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene and non-phenolic styrenes with rate constants that range from 1 x 10(8) to 5 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). Similar 4-vinylphenol radical cations such as the radical cations of isoeugenol and coniferyl alcohol display reduced reactivity, presumably due to the presence of beta-alkyl substituents. Overall, the results show that the reactivity of 4-vinylphenol radical cations with neutral styrenes parallels the reactivity of non-phenolic styrene radical cations, which are known to undergo efficient radical cation mediated dimerization reactions to give lignan-like compounds. The possibility that the biosynthesis of some lignans may follow a radical cation mediated mechanism is discussed.     

Solvent polarity effects and limited acid catalysis in rearrangements of model radicals for the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase- and isobutyryl-CoA mutase-catalyzed isomerization reactions

The kinetics of reactions of models for the intermediate radicals formed in the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase- and isobutyryl-CoA mutase-catalyzed rearrangements were studied by laser flash photolysis methods. The aldehyde-containing model analogous to the propanal-3-yl radical reacted via 3-exo cyclization with rate constants that varied with solvent polarity (k in the range 2 x 105 to 1 x 107 s-1). The analogous methyl ketone-containing radical reacted 2 orders of magnitude less rapidly, and the ethylthiocarbonyl-containing radical analogue reacted too slowly for kinetic measurements. No acid catalysis was observed in acetic acid, but the CF3CO2H-complexed radicals reacted 1 order of magnitude faster than the uncomplexed radicals. The results indicate that catalysis of the 3-exo radical cyclizations of the radicals formed in the enzymes by hydrogen bonding to an acid, so-called "partial protonation", is not adequate for acceleration of the reactions to the point of kinetic competence. A dissociative mechanism for the radical rearrangements in nature is considered as an alternative.     

Kinetic results implicating a polar radical reaction pathway in the rearrangement catalyzed by alpha-methyleneglutarate mutase

alpha-Methyleneglutarate mutase (MGM) catalyzes the rearrangement of 2-methyleneglutarate to 3-methylitaconate (2-methylene-3-methylsuccinate). A putative mechanism for the MGM-catalyzed reaction involves 3-exo cyclization of the 2-methyleneglutaric acid-4-yl radical to a cyclopropylcarbinyl radical intermediate that ring opens to the 3-hydroxycarbonyl-2-methylenebutanoic acid-4-yl radical (3-methylitaconic acid radical). Model reactions for this mechanism were studied by laser flash photolysis kinetic methods. alpha-Ester radicals were produced by 266 nm photolysis of alpha-phenylselenyl ester derivatives. Rate constants for cyclizations of the (Z)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-4-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-3-buten-1-yl radical ((Z)-8a) and (E)- and (Z)-1,3-di(ethoxycarbonyl)-4-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-3-buten-1-yl radicals ((E)- and (Z)-8b) were determined. The ester group in (Z)-8a accelerates the 3-exo cyclization in comparison to the parent radical lacking an ester group by a factor of 3, an effect ascribed to a polarized transition state. The ester groups at C3 in radicals 8b slow the 3-exo cyclization reaction by a factor of 50. The rate constant for cyclization of the 2-methyleneglutaric acid-4-yl radical is estimated to be k approximately 2000 s(-1) at ambient temperature. When coupled with the estimated partitioning of the intermediate cyclopropylcarbinyl radical, the overall rate constant for the conversion is estimated to be k approximately equal to 1 x 10(-3) s(-1), which is much too small for any radical reaction and several orders of magnitude too small for kinetic competence for the MGM-catalyzed process. The possibility that the radical reaction in nature involves an unusual mechanism in which polar effects are important is discussed.     

Lewis acid catalysis in heterolysis reactions of glycol ether radicals mimicking diol dehydratase-catalyzed reactions

Zinc bromide-catalyzed heterolysis reactions of glycol ether radicals were studied by laser flash photolysis methods, which gave the binding constants and catalytic rate constants for fragmentation. The Lewis acid-catalyzed heterolysis reactions mimic a putative reaction pathway in diol dehydratase-catalyzed reactions and are potentially useful polar processes for incorporation into conventional radical chain reaction sequences. [reaction: see text]     

A study of aryl radical cyclization in enaminone esters

Aryl radical cyclization in N-phenyl, N-benzyl, and N-phenethyl enaminone esters 1a-f was studied. N-Benzyl and N-phenethyl enaminones afforded 5-exo and 6-exo cyclization products, respectively, but radical cyclization did not occur in N-phenyl enaminones. The rate constants for the 5-exo and 6-exo cyclization processes in secondary enaminones were estimated as being on the order of 10(7) s(-1) at 353 K; since DNMR experiments showed the rate constant for rotation around the enaminone C3-N bond to be on the order of 10(4) s(-1) at this temperature, the initial enaminone configuration is maintained throughout the cyclization process. PM3 calculations suggested that the nonoccurrence of endo and 4-exo cyclizations is due to the corresponding transition structures involving significant distortion of the conjugated enaminone system.     

Intramolecular photoarylation of alkenes by phenyl cations

Acetone-sensitized irradiation of various o-chlorophenyl allyl ethers in polar solvents led to either (dihydro)benzofurans or chromanes. The reaction appeared to involve photoheterolysis of the aryl-Cl bond followed by phenyl cation addition onto the tethered double bond either in 5-exo or 6-endo modes. The adduct cation gave the end products by deprotonation; addition of chloride anion or of the solvent, depending on the structure; and the conditions used. Preference for the 5-exo mode increased in passing from medium polarity (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate) to high polarity solvents (aqueous acetonitrile, methanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol), for which this was often the exclusive path. The same compounds underwent photohomolysis when irradiated in cyclohexane, and radical cyclization was one of the process occurring. Substitution of a methylene group for the ether oxygen atom made 6-endo cyclization by far the main path in a related o-chlorophenylbutene. Again, the selectivity was higher in polar protic solvents. The results are discussed in terms of in cage ion pair versus free phenyl cation reactions.     

Anodic cyclization reactions: probing the chemistry of N,O-ketene acetal derived radical cations

The chemical reactivity of radical cations derived from N,O-ketene acetals has been examined and compared with the reactivity of radical cations derived from both ketene dithioacetals and enol ethers. Synthetically, the N,O-ketene acetal radical cations lead to more efficient cyclization reactions than either the ketene dithioacetal or enol ether derived radical cations. Cyclic voltammetry experiments using allylsilane trapping groups show that the efficiency of these cyclizations is not due to the N,O-ketene acetal radical cations being more reactive but rather more stable to decomposition. Finally, cyclizations using chiral oxizolidinones were examined.     

EPR studies of amine radical cations. Part 2. Thermal and photo-induced rearrangements of propargylamine and allylamine radical cations in low-temperature freon matrices

Matrix EPR studies and quantum chemical calculations have been used to characterize the consecutive H-atom shifts undergone by the nitrogen-centered parent radical cations of propargylamine (1b*+) and allylamine (5*+) on thermal or photoinduced activation. The radical cation rearrangements of these unsaturated parent amines occur initially by a 1,2 H-atom shift from C1 to C2 with pi-bond formation at the positively charged nitrogen; this is followed by a consecutive reaction involving a second H-atom shift from C2 to C3. Thus, exposure to red light (lambda > 650 nm) converts 1b*+ to the vinyl-type distonic radical cation 2*+ which in turn is transformed on further photolysis with blue-green light (lambda approximately 400-600 nm) to the allene-type heteroallylic radical cation 3*+. Calculations show that the energy ordering is 1b*+ > 2*+ > 3*+, so that the consecutive H-atom shifts are driven by the formation of more stable isomers. Similarly, the parent radical cation of allylamine 5*+ undergoes a spontaneous 1,2-hydrogen atom shift from C1 to C2 at 77 K with a t1/2 of approximately 1 h to yield the distonic alkyl-type iminopropyl radical cation 6*+; this thermal reaction is attributed largely to quantum tunneling, and the rate is enhanced on concomitant photobleaching with visible light. Subsequent exposure to UV light (lambda approximately 350-400 nm) converts 6*+ by a 2,3 H-shift to the 1-aminopropene radical cation 7*+, which is confirmed to be the lowest-energy isomer derived from the ionization of either allylamine or cyclopropylamine. Although the parent radical cations of N, N-dimethylallylamine (9*+) and N-methylallylamine (11*+) are both stabilized by the electron-donating character of the methyl group(s), the photobleaching of 9*+ leads to the remarkable formation of the cyclic 1-methylpyrrolidine radical cation 10*+. The first step of this transformation now involves the migration of a hydrogen atom to C2 of the allyl group from one of the methyl groups (rather than from C1); the reaction is then completed by the cyclization of the generated MeN + (=CH2) CH2CH2CH2* distonic radical cation, possibly in a concerted overall process. In contrast to the ubiquitous H-atom transfer from carbon to nitrogen that occurs in the parent radical cations of saturated amines, the alternate rearrangements of either 1b*+ or 5*+ to an ammonium-type radical cation by a hypothetical H-atom shift from C1 to the ionized NH2 group are not observed. This is in line with calculations showing that the thermal barrier for this transformation is much higher (approximately 120 kJ mol-1) than those for the conversion of 1b*+ --> 2*+ and 5*+--> 6*+ (approximately 40-60 kJ mol-1).     

An accelerating-reporting group for studies of radical heterolysis reactions and its application in an acid-catalyzed fragmentation reaction of an alpha,beta-dimethoxy radical

The 2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl group was employed to accelerate reactions of alpha-methoxy radicals containing beta-leaving groups, to trap the products of either migration or heterolysis of the leaving group, and to provide a useful chromophore for laser flash photolysis kinetic studies. The reporting group biases reactions in favor of heterolytic fragmentation and most likely intercepts radical cations in ion pairs. The 1-methoxy-1-methyl-2-(diethylphosphatoxy)-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)ethyl radical (3a) reacted faster than the kinetic resolution of the instrument (k > 2 x 10(8) s(-1)) in all solvents studied, and the 2-acetoxy analogue (3b) reacted much faster than related radicals that do not contain the cyclopropyl group (e.g., k = 1.1 x 10(6) s(-1) in CH3CN at ambient temperature). The rate constants and Arrhenius parameters for reactions of 3b indicated that the rate-limiting step in the reaction was heterolytic cleavage. The 1,2-dimethoxy-1-methyl-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)ethyl radical (26) reacted in a general acid-catalyzed heterolysis reaction, and rate constants for protonation of the beta-methoxy group by a series of carboxylic acids were determined. The results suggest that acid-catalyzed reactions of beta-alkoxy radicals might be employed in synthetic conversions.     

Photochemical transformations of 1,3,5-trioxane radical cations in freonic matrices at 77 K

It was found that the principal photochemical reaction of 1,3,5-trioxane radical cations in freonic matrices at 77 K is their cycle-opening dissociation yielding the distonic radical cation in which the unpaired electron is preferentially localized on the oxygen atom. The dissociation of the trioxane radical cations at 77 K is characterized by high quantum yields, which vary from 0.24 to 0.36 in different matrices. The distonic radical cations produced during photolysis are unstable at 77 K and undergo further transformations, which occur at different rates in freonic matrices. The structure of the intermediates produced and a possible mechanism of the processes are discussed with the use of quantum-chemical calculation data.     

Oxidative cyclization based on reversing the polarity of enol ethers and ketene dithioacetals. Construction of a tetrahydrofuran ring and application to the synthesis of (+)-nemorensic Acid

The utility of oxidative cyclization reactions for the construction of tetrahydrofuran rings has been examined. In these experiments, alcohol nucleophiles were found to be effective traps for radical cation intermediates generated from both enol ether and ketene dithioacetal groups. The reactivity of the alcohol trapping group appeared to lie between that of an enol ether and an allylsilane trapping group. The stereochemical outcome of cyclization reactions originating from the oxidation of an enol ether was found to be controlled by stereoelectronic factors. The utility of these cyclization reactions was illustrated with the synthesis of a key tetrahydrofuran building block for the synthesis of linalool oxide and rotundisine. Cyclization reactions triggered by the oxidation of a ketene dithioacetal led to far greater levels of stereoselectivity. The stereochemical outcome of these reactions was shown to arise from steric factors involving the larger ketene acetal group. The synthetic utility of cyclizations utilizing ketene dithioacetal derived radical cations was demonstrated by completing an asymmetric synthesis of (+)-nemorensic acid. Finally, the reactions were shown to be compatible with the use of an amide nucleophile and the direct formation of a lactone product.     

A ring walk of methylene groups in toluene radical cations. An extension of the toluene-cycloheptatriene rearrangement of aromatic radical cations. Theory and experiment

The minimum energy reaction pathway (MERP) of the toluene-cycloheptatriene radical cation rearrangement (TOL/CHT-rearrangement) has been calculated by the UHF and DFT model at the level UHF/6-311+G(3df,2p)//UHF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYp/6-31G(d), respectively, including the ring walk of the substituent by a 1,2-shift around the aromatic ring. This ring walk corresponds to interconversion of distonic ions and norcaradiene radical cations (the two intermediates of the TOL/CHT-rearrangement) by making and breaking of the external C-C bonds of the cyclopropane moiety of the intermediate norcaradiene structure. For toluene radical cation 1, UHF calculations adequately reproduce earlier results(4) and show, that the ring walk of the CH(3)-substituents requires slightly more energy than formation of the cycloheptatriene radical cation. By the DFT model, the distonic ion, which is formed initially by a 1,2-H shift from CH(3) to the benzene ring, is not stable but the transition state of an interconversion of norcaradiene radical cations along a ring walk of the CH(3) substituent. The activation energy for this ring walk exceeds that for formation of the cycloheptatriene radical cation by c. 30 kJ mol(-1). Thus, isomerization of 1 by a ring walk of the CH(3)-substituent competes with the TOL/CHT-rearrangement likely only for excited 1. The calculation was repeated for the MERPs of a TOL/CHT-rearrangement of para-xylene radical cation 5 and ethylbenzene radical cation 2, yielding basically the same results as for 1. According to the calculation, polar substituents alter significantly the relative energies of the competing routes of isomerization. For benzylcyanide 3 (X = CN), the activation energy for a ring walk of the NC-CH(2)-substituent is distinctly below that of a ring enlargement. For benzyl methyl ether 4 (X = OCH(3)), the distonic intermediate along the UHF-MERP is unusually stable. Further, the 7-methoxy-norcaradiene radical ion is unstable and corresponds to a transition state between isomeric distonic intermediates differing by a 1,2-shift of the side chain. In contrast, the 7-methoxy-norcaradiene radical ion is the only intermediate of the DFT-MERP, and the distonic ion is the transition state for a 1,2-shift of the cyclopropane ring. A ring walk of the CH(3)OCH(2)-substituent is much more favorable than formation of a 7-methoxy-cycloheptatriene radical cation in both MERPs. The findings of the theoretical calculation are substantiated by the mass spectrometric fragmentations of meta- and para-methoxymethylated 1-phenylethanols 8 and 9 and of para-methoxymethyl substituted benzyl ethyl ether 10 and benzyl n-propyl ether 11. Important fragmentation routes of metastable molecular ions of these compounds correspond to elimination of alcohols. Use of deuterated derivatives shows that the elimination occurs by a "false" ortho-effect which requires migration of a ROCH(2)-substituent around the benzene ring. Results of particular interest are obtained for the asymmetric bis-ethers 10 and 11. Here, the MIKE spectra of the molecular ions of deuterated analogs reveal a selective ring walk of the C(2)H(5)OCH(2)- and n-C(3)H(7)OCH(2)-side chain, respectively.