Compounds of the type ROCH 2 X, in which the substituent X is an electron-donating alkoxy, aryl or amido group, undergo thiol-catalysed radical-chain decomposition to give RH and XCHO. This reaction has been applied for the deoxygenation of representative tertiary and secondary alcohols ROH under metal-free conditions that require no stoichiometric co- reactant. Of the derivatives investigated, methoxymethyl (MOM) ethers and 1- ...