Evidence for single electron transfer in the reaction of a lithium enolate with a primary alkyl iodide

Evidence for a radical process in the reaction of the lithium enolate of propiophenone with a primary alkyl iodide was obtained by the observation of cyclization of an appropriate radical probe, by the trapping of the radical intermediate and by the comparison of the relative rates of reactions of the probe alkyl iodide with the corresponding bromide and tosylate.