Frontier Orbitals and Organic Chemical Reactions

Book Description
Provides a basic introduction to frontier orbital theory with a review of its applications in organic chemistry. Assuming the reader is familiar with the concept of molecular orbital as a linear combination of atomic orbitals the book is presented in a simple style, without mathematics making it accessible to readers of all levels.


From the Back Cover
This book is both a simplified account of frontier orbital theory and a review of its applications in organic chemistry; it provides a basic introduction to the subject and a wealth of illustrative examples. Frontier orbital theory looks at how the transition state of an organic reaction is affected by the interaction of the molecular orbitals of the starting materials. It thus complements the more familiar thermodynamic picture of transition states, in which product-like character is seen as influencing the ease and the course of reactions. The theory is presented very simply, without mathematics, stressing physical principles and assuming only that the reader is familiar with the concept of a molecular orbital as a linear combination of atomic orbitals. This book thus makes frontier orbital theory accessible for the first time to readers at every level. Contents Introduction; Molecular Orbitals and Frontier Orbitals; Ionic Reactions; Thermal Pericyclic Reactions; Radical Reactions; Photochemical Reactions; Exceptions.


About the Author
IAN FLEMINGstudied in Cambridge, obtaining his BA in 1959 and PhD (with Dr J Harley-Mason) in 1962. He spent one year at Harvard University (with Professor RB Woodward) before returning to Cambridge, where he is now an Assistant Director of Research and a Fellow of Pembroke College. He was a Visiting Professor at McGill University in 1972. His research interests centre on synthetic organic chemistry and on understanding the mechanisms of chemical reactions.


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This book is both a simplified account of frontier orbital theory and a review of its applications in organic chemistry; it provides a basic introduction to the subject and a wealth of illustrative examples. Frontier orbital theory looks at how the transition state of an organic reaction is affected by the interaction of the molecular orbitals of the starting materials. It thus complements the more familiar thermodynamic picture of transition states, in which product-like character is seen as influencing the ease and the course of reactions. The theory is presented very simply, without mathematics, stressing physical principles and assuming only that the reader is familiar with the concept of a molecular orbital as a linear combination of atomic orbitals. This book thus makes frontier orbital theory accessible for the first time to readers at every level. Contents Introduction; Molecular Orbitals and Frontier Orbitals; Ionic Reactions; Thermal Pericyclic Reactions; Radical Reactions; Photochemical Reactions; Exceptions.


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