The technique is applied to conversions that proceed via unimolecular pathways.  2-Acetoxydioxane, when heated at 425 °C converts to the highly reactive dioxene, via loss of acetic acid.
  2-Furonitrile has been prepared by flash-dehydration of 2-furoic acid amide or oxime over molecular sieves. The strained ring benzocyclobutenone has been prepared by FVP from a simple benzoyl chloride precursor.