Pericyclic reaction

Definition

A pericyclic reaction is a type of organic chemical reaction that proceeds through a concerted process, involving the cyclic redistribution of bonding electrons through the formation of transition states with no intermediates. These reactions are characterized by their dependence on the symmetries of molecular orbitals to facilitate electron movement.

Related terms

Concerted mechanism: A reaction mechanism in which all bond-breaking and bond-forming events occur simultaneously in a single step.

Molecular orbitals: Describes regions in a molecule where electrons are most likely to be found; they form by the overlap of atomic orbitals when atoms combine to form molecules.

Transition state: The high-energy, unstable arrangement of atoms that exists momentarily as reactants are converted into products during a chemical reaction