An easy synthesis of lepidopterene from 9-chloromethyl anthracene. Evidence for a free radical mechanism

This communication reports a novel and efficient synthesis of lepidopterene from 9-(chloromethyl)anthracene. Furthermore, the radical nature of the process is unambiguously established through the obtention of several 9-anthracenemethyl derivatives, which are formed via a common 9-anthracenemethyl radical intermediate, derived from 9-(iodomethyl)anthracene.