The neutron decay of high-lying single-particle states in 6 4 Ni, 9 0 Zr, 1 2 0 Sn and 2 0 8 Pb excited by means of the ([alpha ], 3 He) reaction has been investigated at 120 MeV incident energy using the multidetector EDEN. The characteristics of this reaction are studied using inclusive spectra and angular correlation analysis. The structure located between 11 and 15 MeV in 9 1 Zr, and between 8 and 12 MeV excitation energy in 2 0 9 Pb display large departures from a pure statistical decay. The corresponding non-statistical branching ratios are compared with the results of two theoretical calculations.