Thermolysis Reactions of Strained Compounds: Mechanistic Interpretation and Synthetic Use
Actual applications of thermolysis reactions in organic synthesis are described with emphasis on pericyclic reactions of small ring hydrocarbons such as cyclopropanes (vinylcyclopropanes, 1,2‐divinylcyclopropanes), cyclobutanes, cyclobutenes, and benzocyclobutenes. Several examples for the application of retro Diels‐Alder reactions for the preparation of reactive intermediates as well as for the synthesis of interesting target molecules are given.