Reactivity-selectivity principle

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009986",
  "term": "Reactivity-selectivity principle",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A generalization holding that the more reactive a reagent or intermediate is, the less selective it is between competing substrates or sites, because its transition states come early and respond weakly to structural differences. It has many exceptions, since selectivity can stay constant or even rise with reactivity in some reaction series. Reactions at the diffusion-controlled limit show the extreme case, with selectivity falling to zero.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "anti",
    "diffusion",
    "reactive",
    "selectivity"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1159 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/reactivity-selectivity-principle/"
}