A method to release from a precursor compound, compounds selected from the group consisting of a) a carbonyl compound of formula wherein R 1 is a C 1-15 alkyl, C 3-15 alkenyl, C 6-10 aryl, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl or C 3-14 heterocycloalkyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a hydroxy, C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 2-15 alkenyloxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 3-15 heterocycloalkyl, carboxylic acid, C 1-4 carboxylic ester, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl or phenyl group; or R 1 and R 2, when taken together, form a C 5-16 cycloalkyl, C 5-16 cycloalkenyl, C 4-14 heterocycloalkyl or C 4-14 heterocycloalkenyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group, wherein the heteroatom represents one or more of an oxygen atom; b) a formate ester of formula R 3 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-10 alkyl group, a C 3-10 alkenyl group, a benzyl group, a 2-phenylethyl group or a C 5-8 cycloalkyl group optionally substituted by one, two or three C 1-4 alkyl groups; R 4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl, a phenyl or a CH 2 C OR 3 group; wherein R 3 has the same meaning as defined above; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; c) an alcohol of formula wherein R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above; wherein the precursor compound comprises a compound of formula in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above; by exposing the precursor compound of formula to an environment wherein the compound is oxidized. a) a carbonyl compound of formula wherein R 1 is a C 1-15 alkyl, C 3-15 alkenyl, C 6-10 aryl, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl or C 3-14 heterocycloalkyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a hydroxy, C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 2-15 alkenyloxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 3-15 heterocycloalkyl, carboxylic acid, C 1-4 carboxylic ester, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl or phenyl group; or R 1 and R 2, when taken together, form a C 5-16 cycloalkyl, C 5-16 cycloalkenyl, C 4-14 heterocycloalkyl or C 4-14 heterocycloalkenyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group, wherein the heteroatom represents one or more of an oxygen atom; R 1 is a C 1-15 alkyl, C 3-15 alkenyl, C 6-10 aryl, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl or C 3-14 heterocycloalkyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a hydroxy, C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 2-15 alkenyloxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 3-15 heterocycloalkyl, carboxylic acid, C 1-4 carboxylic ester, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, hydroxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl or phenyl group; or R 1 and R 2, when taken together, form a C 5-16 cycloalkyl, C 5-16 cycloalkenyl, C 4-14 heterocycloalkyl or C 4-14 heterocycloalkenyl group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-15 alkyl, C 2-15 alkenyl, C 1-15 alkoxy, C 3-15 cycloalkyl, C 5-15 cycloalkenyl, C 6-10 aryl and/or C 6-10 aryloxy group, each optionally substituted with one or more of a C 1-8 alkyl, C 1-8 alkoxy, carboxylic acid and/or C 1-4 carboxylic ester group, wherein the heteroatom represents one or more of an oxygen atom; b) a formate ester of formula R 3 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-10 alkyl group, a C 3-10 alkenyl group, a benzyl group, a 2-phenylethyl group or a C 5-8 cycloalkyl group optionally substituted by one, two or three C 1-4 alkyl groups; R 4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl, a phenyl or a CH 2 C OR 3 group; wherein R 3 has the same meaning as defined above; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R 3 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-10 alkyl group, a C 3-10 alkenyl group, a benzyl group, a 2-phenylethyl group or a C 5-8 cycloalkyl group optionally substituted by one, two or three C 1-4 alkyl groups; R 4 represents a hydrogen atom, a C 1-6 alkyl, a phenyl or a CH 2 C OR 3 group; wherein R 3 has the same meaning as defined above; R 5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; c) an alcohol of formula wherein R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above; wherein the precursor compound comprises a compound of formula in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above; wherein R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above; wherein the precursor compound comprises a compound of formula in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4 and R 5 have the same meaning as defined above;