Chain-elongation and Degradation of Carboxylic Acids by Barton-ester Based Radical Chemistry

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(93)88090-6

The reaction of α-trifluoroacetoxy acrylates and acrylonitriles with carbon radicals formed from carboxylic acids gives adducts that can be transformed into vic-diols, esters, amides, and homoaldehydes in good to high yield.Aldoses can be smoothly degraded to the corresponding nor- or bis-nor compounds using radical chemistry.