The term indicates a
sequence of reactions such as shown in equations
(1)–(3), leading from
A
to
B
:
An analogous
sequence involving radical cations
(
A+.,
B+.)
is also observed. The most notable example of electron-transfer
catalysis is
the
(or
)
reaction of aromatic halides. The term has its origin in a suggested analogy to acid-base
catalysis, with the electron instead of the
proton. However, there is a difference between the two catalytic mechanisms, since the electron
is not a true
catalyst, but rather behaves as the
initiator of a
chain reaction. '
Electron-transfer induced chain reaction' is a more appropriate term for the situation described by equations (1)–(3).
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1110
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
