Solvent effects on the O-neophyl rearrangement of 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radicals. A laser flash photolysis study

J Org Chem. 2005 Dec 9;70(25):10603-6. doi: 10.1021/jo0518755.

Abstract

[reaction: see text] A laser flash photolysis study has been carried out to assess solvent effects on the O-neophyl rearrangement of 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radicals. The rearrangement rate constant k decreases by increasing solvent polarity and an excellent correlation with negative slope is obtained between log k and the solvent polarity parameter E(T)N. These evidences are in full agreement with the previous indication that the extent of internal charge separation decreases on going from the starting 1,1-diarylalkoxyl radical to the transition state.