A metal-catalyst-free intramolecular Heck carbonylation reaction of benzyl alcohols
               and benzyl amines with carbon monoxide under heating at 250 °C affords the corresponding
               benzolactones and benzolactams in good to excellent yields. A hybrid radical/ionic
               chain mechanism, involving electron transfer from radical anions generated by nucleophilic
               attack of alcohols or amines on intermediate acyl radicals, is proposed.
            
         Key words
carbonylation - electron transfer - radical reactions - metal-free - lactones - lactams