A
concerted process in which the
primitive changes concerned (generally bond rupture and bond formation) have progressed to the same
extent at the
transition state is said to be synchronous.
The term figuratively implies a more or less synchronized progress of the changes.
However, the progress of the bonding change (or other
primitive change) has not been defined quantitatively in terms of a single parameter applicable to
different bonds or different bonding changes. The concept is therefore in general
only qualitatively descriptive and does not admit an exact definition except in the
case of concerted processes involving changes in two identical bonds.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1170