Cation radicals of organosulphur compounds.

1. Biological and biomimetic oxidations of thioethers are reviewed. 2. gamma-Radiolysis, pulse radiolysis, photochemical, chemical, and electrochemical methods for generating sulphur cation radicals are discussed and exemplified. 3. The major reactions of sulphur cation radicals: nucleophilic attack, electron transfer, decarboxylation, reaction with O2, C-S, C-C, and alpha-C-M bond cleavages, sulphur abstraction, and rearrangements are presented.