β-Scission of Alkoxy Radicals in Synthetic Transformations

The C-C bond located at the beta-position of an alkoxy radical readily breaks to form an alkyl radical along with a carbonyl compound. Such processes are called beta-scission or beta-fragmentation. They possibly proceed without any assistance of ring strain, and have recently attracted renewed attention as the key elementary step to transform alcohols in a unique fashion. Summarized in this Highlight Review are synthetic transformations of alcohols through beta-scission of alkoxy radical intermediates.