Free radicals are generally associated with highly reactive and uncontrollable species, leading to degradative processes or pathologies. Paradoxically, this high reactivity also represents a unique opportunity for powerful synthetic chemistry. The aim of this lecture is to lay the foundations for the use of radical intermediates, in particular C-centric radicals, in organic synthesis. Structural characteristics and kinetic data will be covered, as well as the different methods for generating radicals in chain or redox processes. The major radical chemistry reactions will also be covered: inter- or intramolecular addition, atom transfer, homolytic substitution and their applications in different contexts : total synthesis, asymmetric reactions... This lecture will emphasize processes involving mild and sustainable conditions.
