A variety of methods have been utilized to detect the occurrence of a single electron transfer pathway in the reduction of alkyl halides by LiAlH4 and AlH3, ie,(1) product studies of reduction of cyclizable alkyl halides containing the 5-hexenyl group,(2) trapping of intermediate radicals by dicyclohexylphosphhe and other trapping agents,(3) direct EPR observation of the trityl radical in the reduction of trityl bromide, and (4) stereochemical ...
