* Methyl esters are often susceptible to decarboxylation in the Krapcho decarboxylation.
* Phenyl esters react to hydroxyarylketones in the Fries rearrangement.
* Specific esters are functionalized with an α-hydroxyl group in the Chan rearrangement.
* Esters with β-hydrogen atoms can be converted to alkenes in ester pyrolysis.
*A direct conversion of esters to nitriles.
* Pairs of esters are coupled to give α-hydroxyketones in the acyloin condensation