A gallium hydride reagent, HGaCl2, was found to act as a radical mediator. Treatment of alkyl halides with the gallium hydride reagent, generated from gallium trichloride and sodium bis (2-methoxyethoxy) aluminum hydride, provided the corresponding reduced products in excellent yields. Radical cyclization of halo acetals was also successful with not only the stoichiometric gallium reagent but also a catalytic amount of gallium trichloride ...