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Updated: May 10, 2026

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
Thiols, thioethers, and related compounds as sources of C-centred radicals
Fabrice Dénès1, Carl H Schiesser, Philippe Renaud
1Université de Nantes, CEISAM UMR 6230 - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques - 2, rue de la Houssinière BP 92208, 44322 Nantes Cedex 3, France. fabrice.denes@univ-nantes.fr.
Abstract:
Due to their stability, availability and reactivity, sulfides are particularly attractive sources of carbon-centered radicals. However, their reactivity in homolytic substitution processes is strongly reduced when compared with the corresponding selenides or halides. Despite this, sulfur-containing compounds can be engineered so that they become effective agents in radical chain reactions. A detailed description of the reactivity of organo-sulfur compounds is reported here with the aim of providing clear guidance on the scope and limitation of their use as radical precursors in chain reactions.
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