regioselectivity
The preference of a chemical reaction to occur at one specific direction or location on a molecule over other possible locations.
Noun
This term is a highly specialized technical descriptor used almost exclusively within organic chemistry and molecular biology. It describes the spatial preference of a chemical reaction, specifically when a reagent attacks one particular atom or bond over another in a molecule that has multiple potential reaction sites.
Because it refers to a specific chemical property or a measurable degree of preference, it is treated as an uncountable noun. It is typically modified by adjectives such as high, low, or absolute to indicate the efficiency of the reaction's directional preference.
Meanings
Examples
The paper discusses the regioselectivity of electrophilic aromatic substitution.
Related Words
chemistryreactionselectivityisomerregioisomerstereoselectivitystereochemistrycatalystcatalysissubstratereagentnucleophileelectrophilemechanismkineticsthermodynamicsactivationenergytransition stateintermediateadditionsubstitutioneliminationhydrogenationhydrationhalogenationoxidationreductionstereoisomerismenantiomerdiastereomerchiralitymoleculeatombondorbitalelectronchargepolaritystericshindranceyieldproductbyproductmixtureequilibriumratespecificityorganic chemistryfunctional groupalkenealkynearenecarbonylcarbanioncarbocationradicalresonanceinductionhyperconjugationstabilityregioselectivestereoselective