The low selectivity of benzyl alkyl sulfide fragmentation subsequent to its reaction with atomic hydrogen is indicative of a reaction that proceeds via an early transition state. The competitive reduction of a series of substituted-benzyl alkyl sulfides was insensitive to the substituent on the aromatic ring (ρ=-0.13, r= 0.99). The relative rates of fragmentation of a series of the substituted-benzyl alkyl sulfides gave a V-shaped Hammett plot. Both ...