Reductive alkylation of m-toluic acid (7), m-anisic acid (81, benzoic acid (9), and 2, 3- dimethylbenzoic acid (31) with selected alkyl halides followed by iodolactonization and side- chain modification gave free radical precursors 13, 14, 19, 27, and 34. Treatment of 13, 14, and 19 with tri-n-butyltin hydride and AIBN gave mixtures of perhydroindans and perhydronaphthalenes. Similar treatment of 27 and 34 gave trans-perhydroindans 28 and ...