The reaction of benzo-1, 3-dioxanes or benzo-1, 3-oxathianes 1 [easily prepared from 2- hydroxy or 2-mercapto benzylic alcohols (3 or 4, respectively) and carbonyl compounds] with an excess of lithium and a catalytic amount of DTBB (4.5 mol%) in THF at room temperature or− 78° C leads, after hydrolysis with water, to the corresponding homobenzylic alcohols 2. Cyclisation of compounds 2 under acidic (85% H3PO4) or neutral (Ph3P/DIAD ...
[Bendall,V.I.; Dharamshi,S.S. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1972-1999), 1972 , p. 2732 - 2734]