The
identity reaction leading to exchange of the positions of identical
ligands. The indistinguishable molecular entities involved are called topomers. For example
in the reaction below the two identical ligating atoms N
a and N
b are interchanged by rotation about the C-aryl bond but may be identified by NMR
spectroscopy. This is a degenerate
isomerization.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2193
(Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2220
