Relative reactivities of α-substituted benzyl methyl ethers towards atomic bromine and the trichloromethyl radical

Abstract

The relative reactivities of a series of α-substituted benzyl methyl ethers, PhCHR·OMe (R = H, OMe, Ph, and CO₂Me) towards abstraction of benzylic hydrogen atoms by atomic bromine (from N-bromosuccinimide) and by the trichloromethyl radical have been measured, using an intermolecular competition reaction, involving analysis of the reaction products. The results show that the two radicals exhibit similar selectivities.