Radical formation via the elimination process is the mechanistic reverse of the radical addition reaction. It occurs due to an unstable radical. For instance, dibenzoyl peroxide undergoes homolysis to form a radical, which is unstable. So, it undergoes elimination to generate a phenyl radical and carbon dioxide. The site of the unpaired electron in the radical is the α position. During the elimination reaction, the unstable radical cleaves the carbon–carbon σ bond at the β position to yield a stable radical. Accordingly, there forms a double bond between the α and β positions, resulting in two product fragments—a radical species and an unsaturated molecule.