The Genesis of the Reversible Radical Addition–Fragmentation–Transfer of Thiocarbonylthio Derivatives from the Barton–McCombie Deoxygenation: A Brief Account and Some Mechanistic Observations*

Abstract

The observations and reasoning leading to the discovery of the degenerative transfer of xanthates and related thiocarbonylthio derivatives are briefly described. A few synthetic applications are presented, and the consequences on the emergence of the RAFT and MADIX polymerization technologies as well as some mechanistic aspects are briefly discussed.