New radical reactions of S-alkoxycarbonyl xanthates. Total synthesis of (±)-cinnamolide and (±)-methylenolactocin

Irradiation with visible light of S-alkoxycarbonyl xanthates derived from various alcohols gives rise to alkoxycarbonyl radicals with bifurcate reactivity: loss of carbon dioxide leads to deoxygenated derivatives (i.e. alkyl xanthates) whereas intramolecular addition to a suitably located double bond produces lactones; these new reactions were applied to the total synthesis of (±)-cinnamolide and (±)-methylenolactocin.