The reaction between 2-lithio-l, 3-dithiane and optically active (R)-2-iodooctane was found to proceed with complete inversion of configuration. This result suggests that the SN2 (rather than single electron transfer (SET)) mechanism is the preferred pathway for reaction between dithianyllithium and unhindered alkyl halides. When the neopentyl-type radical probe 5, 5-dimethyl-6-iodo-l-hexene was used as the substrate halide, 6-1 1% cyclized ...