Work

Bifurcations on Potential Energy Surfaces of Organic Reactions

Year: 2008

Type: review

Abstract: A single transition state may lead to multiple intermediates or products if there is a post-transition-state reaction pathway bifurcation. These bifurcations arise when there are sequential transition states with no intervening energy minimum. For such systems, the shape of the potential energy surface and dynamic effects, rather than transition-state energetics, control selectivity. This Minireview covers recent investigations of organic reactions exhibiting reaction pathway bifurcations. Such phenomena are surprisingly general and affect experimental observables such as kinetic isotope effects and product distributions.

Source: Angewandte Chemie International Edition

DOI: 10.1002/anie.200800918

Authors: Daniel H. Ess, Steven E. Wheeler, Robert G. Iafe, Lai Xu, Nihan Çelebi‐Ölçüm, Kendall N. Houk

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Chemical Reaction Mechanisms

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Award: Towards the ab Initio Prediction of Catalytic Proficiencies of Enzymes