Heavy-Atom Tunneling in Organic Reactions

Abstract

In the past few years, numerous investigations have been reported on the role of heavy-atom tunneling in the area of pericyclic reactions, π-bond-shifting, and other processes. These studies illustrate unique strategies for the experimental detection of heavy-atom tunneling and the increased use of calculations to predict it. This Minireview focuses primarily on carbon tunneling in ground-state processes but also highlights nitrogen tunneling and the first example of excited-state heavy-atom tunneling. Salient features of these reactions along with potential limitations are discussed, as well as challenges and directions for future investigation.

Keywords: annulenes; quantum chemistry; reaction mechanisms; tunneling.