Trimethyl phosphite as a trap for alkoxy radicals formed from the ring opening of oxiranylcarbinyl radicals. Conversion to alkenes. Mechanistic

Trimethyl phosphite is introduced as an efficient and selective trap in oxiranylcarbinyl radical systems, formed from haloepoxides under thermal AIBN/n-Bu3SnH conditions at about 80 degree Celsius. Structural variations in the intermediate oxiranylcarbinyl, allyloxy and vinyloxycarbinyl radicals involve influences of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the C-O and C-C radical scission processes.