AbstractDuring the parallel (2 + 2)‐ and (4 + 2)‐cycloaddition reactions of aromatic thiones such as xanthene‐9‐thione with substituted allenes XCHCCH2 (X = OR, SR, NMe2, Ph), a strong ESR signal is observed. This signal is associated with the (4 + 2)‐cycloaddition reaction, affording thiopyran derivatives 3,11b‐dihydro‐2‐(X‐methylene)‐2H‐thiopyrano[4,3,2‐kl]xanthene F or 3,11b‐dihydro‐3X‐2‐methylene‐2H‐thiopyrano[4,3,2‐kl]xanthene E. Computer analyses of this signal made possible its identification as emanating from a 9‐xanthenyl radical substituted at the 1‐ and 9‐positions. The type of xanthenyl radical that is formed in the thermal reaction E rad or F rad depends on the nature of the substituent X at the allenic system H2CCCHX. This investigation shows that where X = Ph and NMe2, xanthenyl radicals of structure E rad are produced, and where X = O‐t‐Bu and S‐t‐Bu xanthenyl radicals of structure F rad are produced. It is striking that this production is so selective.On irradiation (λ>254nm), the production of xanthenyl radicals is enhanced. The conformation of xanthenyl radicals E rad and the role of E rad and F rad in the formation of addition products E and F are discussed.
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