Crombenin 1 is a spiropeltogynoid compound with a spiroacetal moiety. A similar structure was synthesized starting from an orthocarbonylphenoxyisochroman by a Norrish type II photocyclisation. With an isochroman compound, the aromatic ring induces benzyl radical formation to give chiefly a bicyclic [4.3. 1] derivative. However, with the introduction of electron-withdrawing or bulky substituents at C-4', this side reaction is limited and the ...