Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
Transition state (TS, [TS]
++
):
The highest energy structure along the
reaction coordinate
between
reactants
and
products
for every step of a
reaction mechanism
.
S
N
2
reaction between
methyl
iodide and
hydroxide ion
.
An
energy profile
for the
S
N
2
reaction between
methyl
iodide and
hydroxide ion
. The transition state lies at the highest energy point.
Related terms:
Activation energy
,
energy of activation
,
E
a
,
E
act
,
Arrhenius equation
,
Hammond postulate
,
Hammond-Leffler postulate
,
early transition state
,
late transition state
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