The chemistry of acyl radicals

Chemistry of Acyl Radicals

“…In general, the reactivity of nonterminal alkenes toward the attack of acyl radicals is not high mainly for steric reasons. Earlier reviews by Walling, Nikishin,4a and Minisci 4b include excellent coverage of intermolecular addition reactions of acyl radicals published prior to the recent blooming of radicals in synthesis. A recent account by Lusztyk, Ingold, and co-workers provides some important kinetic aspects required for synthetic planning of intermolecular reaction of acyl radicals …”

“…Thus formed acyl radicals usually undergo a second one-electron oxidation by another molecule of metal reagents with conversion to acyl cations, but in some cases decarbonylation predominates and the resulting alkyl radicals undergo the one-electron oxidation by metal ions to give alkyl cations. An excellent survey of the initial work in this area is given in two reviews on oxidation 330 and in the earlier reviews on acyl radicals 181 …”