Radical translocation reactions in synthesis

Abstract

This review highlights synthetically useful transformations of organic free-radicals in which a key step is relocation of the radical site by intramolecular abstraction either of a hydrogen atom or a group (e.g. phenyl, cyano, trialkylsilyl). The material is organised around the nature of the radical that initiates translocation and coverage is largely confined to reports that have appeared within the past decade, reference to earlier work only being made in order to establish a context for more recent results.