The Favorskii Rearrangement

Abstract

The skeletal rearrangement of α-halogeno-ketones, which is known as the Favorskii rearrangement, is met most frequently in aliphatic monocyclic, and polycyclic halogenated ketones. This molecular rearrangement is used in the synthesis of branched carboxylic acids and cis-αβ-unsaturated acids and for obtaining smaller rings in alicyclic and to a less extent heterocyclic compounds. The sterochemistry and the mechanism of the Favorskii rearrangement are also considered, these being of great interest for theoretical organic chemistry. A list of 261 references is included.