Intramolecular Rearrangements of Hydrocarbon Radicals in the Gas Phase

The review deals with the rearrangements of alkyl radicals occurring in various gas-phase processes. Intramolecular isomerisations involving the migration of a hydrogen atom with formation of three-, four-, five-, and six-membered transition states are examined. The possibility of the isomerisation of small alkyl radicals (ethyl and propyl radicals) and of the transfer of hydrogen to a neighbouring carbon atom in long-chain radicals is discussed. The process mechanism is considered. The bibliography includes 82 references.