Cyclization of cyanoalkyl radicals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF01108197

Intramolecular homolytic addition to the CN group was observed for the first time. As the result of the reaction, and the subsequent hydrolysis of the cyclization product, cyanoalkyl radicals of type RCHXCN, where X is a chain of three carbon atoms and R is hydrogen or alkyl, are converted in aqueous solution into cycloalkanones[Figure not available: see fulltext.]. The cyanoalkyl radicals, in which X is a chain 4 or 5 C atoms, are partially converted to the corresponding cycloalkanones.