A selection rule for the directions of electronic fluxes during unimolecular pericyclic reactions in the electronic ground state

Abstract

Unimolecular pericyclic reactions in a non-degenerate electronic ground state proceed under the constraint of zero electronic angular momentum. This restriction engenders a selection rule on the directions of electronic fluxes. Accordingly, clockwise or counter-clockwise fluxes are ‘forbidden’, whereas pincer-like fluxes (which consist of concerted clockwise and counter-clockwise fluxes) are ‘allowed’. The selection rule is illustrated for three reactions: the degenerate Cope rearrangement of hexadiene, hydrogen transfer in malonaldehyde, and double proton transfer in the formic acid dimer.