Reactions involving radical intermediates are nowadays an inherent part of organic chemistry and the impressive progress in this area in recent decades has contributed to the understanding of many biological processes and provided many valuable methods for preparative chemists. By analyzing the mechanism of some biochemical transformations involving radical intermediates a common principle emerges. If at the atom adjacent to an α‐hydroxy or α‐alkoxy radical a leaving group is tethered a rapid elimination takes place and the spin density is shifted by one atom. This concept, called the spin‐center shift (SCS), considerably extends the scope of some radical reactions. This microreview provides an overview of both biochemical examples of the SCS concept and synthetic applications. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)