THE CHEMISTRY OF CYCLOPROPYLMETHYL AND RELATED RADICALS

The use of ring opening rearrangement of cyclopropylmethyl radicals to but-3-enyl radicals as radical clocks and as probes of reaction mecha nism is discussed relation to a variety of both enzyme-catalysed and c hemical reactions. Similar studies using heterocyclic analogues, e.g. oxiranylmethyl radicals, are also reported. Factors which influence bo th the rate and regioselectivity of ring opening of cyclopropylmethyl and related radicals have been analysed. The use of this rearrangement in synthetic methodology has also been surveyed.